Floriculture for rural economy in Northeast

Aizawl, Jan 28 (UNI) With the recommendation of National Research Centre for Orchid (NRCO), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has suggested Northeastern states to emphasise on floriculture for a vibrant rural economy.

NRCO has identified the region as a potential area for development of floriculture in view of the geo-climatic condition and opined that Cymbidium orchid of Sikkim, Anthurium of Mizoram and Nagaland, Roses of Meghalaya, Gladiolus, Marigold and Crysanthemum of Tripura are the thrust flowers.

Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram feature 500, 470, and 150 orchid species respectively including clusters of beautiful blue vanda, NRCO sources said.

However, APEDA Chairman Pravin Gupta told UNI, with the report of NRCO, APEDA has sanctioned Rs 7.65 crore exclusivly for floriculture in NE states and asked the state governments to chalk out a master plan for it.

The fund would be utilised for providing support to young entrepreneurs engaged in floriculture and export oriented horticultural products, he said adding besides flowers, APEDA is now promoting cultivation of pineapple and ginger in NE.

''The region offers good scope for cultivation of a wide variety of flowers because of it's diversities in topography, altitude, conginial agro-climatic conditions coupled with fertile soils and well-distributed rainfall which ensure year-round production of tropical and sub-tropical flowers,'' Mr Gupta opined.

However, scientists have warned that some species of exotic orchids, found in the northeast, are now severely depleted due to widespread deforestation. They are in favour of formulating a comprehensive plan for conservation.

According to statistics, about seventy orchid species, of a total eight hundred growing in the region, are on the verge of extinction.

Senior Agronomist of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Narendra Pratap Singh told UNI that the factors affecting orchid include the improper use of land, unscientific cultivation (Jhuming), deforestation and general exploitation of natural resources of the region.

''Northeast has been identified as one of 18 'hot spot' areas in world in terms of the threat faced by the existing flora and fauna,'' Prof Singh stated adding that scientists and institutions have been working to make things better despite formidable obstacles since long.

He further added that since the region is Christian and Hindu dominated who traditionally use flowers for religious and other activities there is a gap between demand and supply of flowers in the domestic markets while the UAE, the UK and Japan have good demand of NE orchids and flowers.

UNI