Lillium cultivation on 2000 kanals of land proposed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 21 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture department has decided to bring 2000 kanals of land under Lillium cultivation, which could help farmers to get good returns.

An official spokesman said that the propagation of Lillium bulbs was being promoted in private sector in Kashmir valley on a large scale.

For this purpose, a Pune based company has been importing planting material from Holland for distributing to farmers in the valley, particularly in Pattan (Baramulla district of South kashmir) and Srinagar.

The Director, Agriculture, Kashmir, had inaugurating a project for plantation of Lillium bulbs at Pattan yesterday, the spokesman said.

He said that 100 kanals of land have been covered under the project this year and one million bulbs are being planted.

General manager of the Pune based company said a complete buy back programme for purchase of bulbs from the farmers has been ensured and the farmers can earn a project of about Rs 10,000 per kannal.

Other speakers on the occasion said that J&K state offers ample opportunity for propagation of commercial floriculture.

They maintained that proper utilization of this sector can generate employment avenues and can also earn foreign exchange.

UNI