PHERAN DIARIES – 23
By: Dr Sanjay Parva (bindasparva@gmail.com)
Budgam’s Karewas, those ancient tablelands rising gently above the plains of Kashmir, are geological treasures and agricultural marvels. Today, however, much of this land lies underutilized, fragmented, or lost to unscientific construction.
At a time when global demand for flowers is booming – with Indian exports touching over Rs 700 crore annually – it is time to imagine Budgam Karewas not just as lands of nostalgia, but as the next Talegaon: India’s new floriculture hub.
Talegaon: The Model We Can Borrow
In two decades, Talegaon in Pune district transformed itself into the country’s floriculture capital. Its success rests on:
• Large-scale polyhouse cultivation of roses, gerberas, carnations, and orchids.
• State-backed subsidies and infrastructure support.
• Cold chains and proximity to airports enabling global exports.
• A strong ecosystem of training institutes, farmer cooperatives, and private investors.
Talegaon flowers now reach Europe, Japan, and the Gulf. Its farmers earn in weeks what cereal farmers earn in months.
Why Budgam Karewas Are Perfectly Suited
1. Agro-climatic advantage: Bright sunshine with cool nights – exactly what high-value flowers require.
2. Proximity to Srinagar Airport: Cargo flights can connect directly to Delhi, Dubai, Sharjah, and beyond.
3. Contiguous land tracts: Karewas offer flat land, ideal for large-scale greenhouses.
4. Youth employment potential: Floriculture can generate thousands of jobs in polyhouse management, packing, cold chains, and exports.
5. Crop diversification: With apple over-dependence hurting Kashmir’s economy, flowers can bring faster, high-margin returns.
Policy Roadmap: Who Should Do What
For Budgam Karewas to bloom like Talegaon, each government department has something to shoulder:
• Department of Horticulture (J&K):
1. Identify and earmark 500+ hectares of Karewa land for floriculture clusters.
2. Roll out subsidy schemes (50–70%) for polyhouse construction, modeled on Maharashtra.
3. Provide farmers with quality planting material (roses, gerberas, carnations, orchids).
• Department of Floriculture, Gardens & Parks (J&K):
1. Establish a Floriculture Training & Research Institute in Budgam.
2. Facilitate tie-ups with international flower markets in Gulf and Europe.
3. Certify farms under APEDA and international standards for export readiness.
• Department of Industries & Commerce:
1. Create Floriculture Industrial Clusters with incentives for private investors.
2. Promote Floriculture Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for collective marketing.
3. Integrate Budgam into national supply chains like Delhi’s Ghazipur Mandi.
• Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers’ Welfare:
1. Ensure irrigation and electricity infrastructure on Karewas.
2. Develop customized credit lines for floriculture under NABARD.
3. Link floriculture with crop insurance schemes.
• Civil Aviation & Transport Department:
1. Build a dedicated cold storage and cargo terminal at Srinagar Airport for perishable flowers.
2. Develop logistics corridors connecting Budgam clusters to airport and national highways.
• Rural Development & Panchayati Raj:
1. Mobilize local youth into floriculture cooperatives.
2. Offer lease-farming policies so unused Karewa lands can be productively leased to young entrepreneurs.
What Talegaon Teaches Us
When Talegaon began, it did not have all answers. But Maharashtra created an enabling environment – subsidies, training, cargo linkages, private investment. Farmers responded with innovation. Budgam has all these raw ingredients, but lacks the policy push and coordinated departmental action.
Talegaon vs. Budgam Karewas
Feature Talegaon, Pune Budgam Karewas, Kashmir
Flowers grown Roses, gerbera, orchids Potential: roses, carnations, lilies, tulips
Market linkage Mumbai, export hubs Srinagar Airport, Gulf & Delhi
Infrastructure Polyhouses, cold chains Yet to be developed
Govt. support High subsidies, training Scattered, needs coordination
An author, a communications strategist, Dr Sanjay Parva was a debut contestant in 2024 Assembly elections.