Floriculture Offers Wide Ranging Opportunities To Farmers Of Punjab

Chandigarh, February 24, 2016: Floriculture offers wide ranging opportunities to farmers of Punjab as the state has suitable soil and climatic conditions for flower cultivation. In order to help the farmers to get out of the vicious cycle of wheat-paddy cultivation and to supplement their income with the plantation of flowers, Punjab government is going all out to encourage flower cultivation in the state.
Punjab government has decided to establish a market intelligence wing in the horticulture department to study advanced planning and marketing support given to farmers for the production of flowers and horticulture crops. The Mandi Board would provide adequate space to the flower producers for marketing their produce in the new air conditioned fruits and vegetable market at Mohali.
An official spokesperson of the Horticulture department said that due to incessant efforts of the horticulture department approximately 1374 hectares of area has been brought under flower production. Government has already approved the proposal to grant 50% subsidy on the total cost of additional infrastructure under the protected cultivation of flowers, herbs and salads in soil less culture. Initially the scheme would cover 50 acre land in the first phase. Further the state government would grant 50% subsidy once after four years for maintenance of the green and net houses. Horticulture department is also preparing a detailed and comprehensive proposal for setting up a cold chain cluster for protected cultivation of flowers, herbs and salads.
According to the spokesperson, the Horticulture department would impart training to the interested farmers in flower farming across the state with help from leading floriculturists to promote flower farming especially with regard to development of soil less farming.
The department has also decided to provide subsidy to the flower producers on the same pattern as was given to the registered society of fruits and vegetables for the purchase of latest machinery and equipment under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme.
The spokesperson said that the progressive and enterprising farmers of Punjab are fast taking up floriculture as an alternative to the traditional crops. Some of them have also started seed production of annually flowering plants for export.