Sikkim all set to host its International Florishow

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) Sikkim International FloriShow 2008 will be organised from March 14 to 16 to showcase the floriculture potential and developments in the state.

The international show is being organised by the State Government at Saaramsa garden, located at 14 km from Gangtok, on the Gangtok-Pakyong Highway.

''The show will provide new opportunities and showcase the states' rich floral wealth,'' Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling said at a function here recently.

On display would be cut flowers, pot flowers, pot plants, dried flowers, floral handicrafts, cut greens, ferns and tissue culture plants.

The mega event was first initiated in 1990.

The Florishow would serve as a platform for all floriculture stakeholders to exchange ideas and share experiences, a release said.

The present area under floriculture is about 118 hectare, which is mostly concentrated in East and South districts of the state.

The total cut-flower production is about three million while production of planting materials, mostly bulbs is estimated at 3.5 million.

The state also known as ''the Nature's own Garden'', witnessed an upsurge in the cultivation of rose, cymbidium orchids, lilium and anthurium which are the thrust flowers, promoted under the Central government's Technology Mission support.

The event is not only a platform for promoting its tourism but it is also paving a new way for exporting flowers glogally as it is well linked to Kolkata which is east India's largest market.

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