Shimla: As per a spokesman of Horticulture dept. of Himachal Pradesh, the State of H.P. through Department of Horticulture, H.P. displayed the carnations from carnation growing districts of the Pradesh in an International Flora Expo-2007 organized by the Media at New Delhi from 12-14th September, 2007. The judging penalist adjudged the H.P. carnation display arrangement as third. The Director of Horticulture, H.P., Dr. Gurdev Singh received the IIIrd Best State Pavilion Award in IIIrd International Flora Expo, 2007.
Himachal grows excellent quality flowers throughout the year. The specially cut flowers are Carnation, Gladiolus, Liliun, Iris, Marigold, Narcissus, Chrysanthemum etc. apart from cut flowers, the State has the distinction in production of flowers, Bulbs, Seeds and Exotic Pot plants.
He said that the area under floriculture was 510 hectares and 2240 growers were cultivating flowers during 2006-07. HA total of 48 flower growers Cooperative Societies/Clubs/Associations have been formed and flowers worth Rs. 19.90 crore were being produced in the State.
Carnation has proved to be major commercial cut flowers crop for the farmers of H.P. during the last few years. International quality carnation are being produced in the districts of Solan, Bilaspur, Chamba, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kullu. The annual production of cult flowers from the State is 20 million stems with a gross turnover of Rs. 75 million.
Horticulture Technology Mission being implemented in the State and till date the Government of India has approved projects worth Rs. 104 crore under HTM under which floriculture is one of the major component.
For ascertaining the market acceptability in the International Market, sample shipment of carnation cut flowers were exported to the Aalsmeer Action House Holland through APEDA during February, 2007.
There is need to set-up Horticulture, Floriculture, Fruit based Industries in Himachal. There are sevrual enterprenuers are interested to set-up the said industries but there is need to invite them by advertiesments/ holding of investment meet in different locations of India under the tytle “Invest in tax liability free, Fruit, Herbs & Floriculture produce State of Himachal Pradesh. There is also need to highlight the Fruit, Herbs & Floriculture availiable in Himachal. I being a consultant motivated some enterprenuers and one of them in the process of to set-up a Fruit based industry with a investment of five crores in Una District, but without the help of Govt, specially Horticulture department I cann’t do more.
P. K. Garg