HP seeks Foreign expertise to boost horti-floriculture

Shimla, Jan 2 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government is seeking foreign expertise and importing plant material to boost both horticulture and floriculture in the mountainous state.

Improved plant material worth Rs 1 crore, imported from the US will soon be distributed among the fruit growers of the Tribal Area in Himachal Pradesh and efforts were on to import more planting material of improved varieties of Apple, Olive and Strawberry among others, the Additional Secretary-cum-Financial Advisor P P Mathur was told at a meeting here today.

From the zero level, the state has covered more than 2 lakh sqm area under Poly Green Houses and farmers once earning meagre Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per hectare were now earning between Rs 1.5 lakh to 15 lakhs per hectare with the adoption of Hi-tech floriculture through Horticulture Technology Mission, he was told.

The State Government was also planning to set up modern floriculture auction center at Delhi.

Recently, experts from Holland visited Himachal Pradesh to explore the potential of export of Floriculture produce. One more expert through APEDA is expected to visit the hill state to train the farmers with respect to post-harvest management of floriculture produce in order to facilitate export of Carnations to Holland.

UNI