The global floriculture industry is growing at an annual rate of 15 to 20 %. World total market has been estimated more than 50 billion US dollars. Out of which 85% demand in various countries is met by domestic production and the remaining 15% through the imports. Most of the European countries had large domestic production but significant increase in demand and decline on account of higher cost of production has made them totally depended upon the imports.
The commercial floriculture industry includes Production of Cut flower, Dried flower, Flowering bulbs, seeds, aromatic oils, pot and landscape plants.
The flowering bulb production and propagation is one of most important ventures of the Industry. It has been estimated that world’s total annual trade for flowering bulbs amounts to Rs. 12,000 crores. Out of which Holland shares about 93%. The potential flowering bulbs include Tulips, Liliums, Zantedeschia, Gladioli, Iris, Liatris, Ranunculus, Peonies, Daffodils, Freesia, Eucaris, Lycoris, Tubers, corms, root cuttings, rootstocks or root system does their production.
Since the flowering bulbs for the production of cut flowers can be cultivated in varied climates, however, the bulb production requires cool climate with definite winter period which is available only in certain regions. Thus this climatic requirement restricts flower bulb production to cold areas of the world. European type of climate is the most suited for this activity. This is the reason Holland covers the 93% of world production. However, the increased demand and the higher cost of production, insists the flowering bulb producing companies of Holland to shift their production units to the other parts of the world.
Lilium is one of the most favored cut flowers all over the world because of its large size bright colours and fragrances. It is also grown from the bulbs. Annually India imports about 8 million Lilium bulbs from Holland and there is an additional demand of about 10 million provided the supply is easily available. In order to meet this demand and to save a huge amount of foreign exchange, trails have been carried out by some states of India for the propagation of the Lilium bulbs, but the results were less significant.
In this regard a pilot project for the propagation of the Lilium bulbs Under Technology Mission Programme was carried over by the Department of Agriculture, Jammu & Kashmir Government at Model Floriculture Centre Nuner, Ganderbal, Kashmir during the year 2006.
Besides a quantity of 5000 kgs of Lilium bulb-lets (less than 8 cms), one each Planting, Harvesting and Grading machines were imported from VWS (flowering bulb producing company of Holland) during April 2006. The imported planting material consisting of five Asiatic varieties such as Dream Land, Royal Trinity, Brindisi, Menorca and Courier was planted on an area of 1.5 hectares (30 kanals) by first week of May 2006 at Model Floriculture Centre. The material was grown fully under the technical guidance of experts from the VWS who used to visit Model Floriculture Centre every month during the growing season. In addition the instructions and observations were exchanged by the local experts with those of experts from the company via satellite daily. The timely application of the irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides as per the recommendations of the VWS and hard efforts of the local experts made the project successful.
The fresh bulbs free from any infection were uprooted by second week of the October 2006. The results were as under:
Result Analysis
Out of total harvest the Flowering bulbs of size 10-12 were 47.93%, 12-14 were 40.38%, and 11.70% were 14 above. Seventeen quintals of planting material (less than 10cms) consisted of 42%, 8-10 size and 58% was below 8 cms. While comparing the varieties it was observed the variety Dream Land only produced the maximum of 10-12 size about 70% while as the rest of the varieties produced more than 50%, 12-14 and above. Like wise the planting material was also produced to its maximum by Royal Trinity, and Dream Land. Various International Flowering Bulb Producing Companies, which have encouraged the state government and the department, appreciated the significant results of the project.
The project has generated a huge demand for the flowering bulbs and Kashmir has been ear marked as one of the new destinations for the production of flowering bulbs to meet the world demand to some extent. Many of the National and the International companies are showing their keen interest to start their bulb propagation units in Kashmir within farmers’ fields. These units if started can help us to establish the industry at large by importing Technical Knowhow, Elite planting material, technology for Post harvest management, development of Post harvest infrastructure.
Our state has a favourable environment for the flower production since our state is endowed with ample natural resources including soil, water, diversity in topography and rich natural flora with mean annual rainfall of 1069 mm in Jammu, 660 mm in Kashmir Valley and 80-90 mm in arid Ladakh region. Average temperatures also vary within the three regions of the state having 24.5, 13.3and 5.3 degrees Celsius in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh respectively. The terrain of the state is greatly dissected and the average altitude varies between 500 to 3500 meters. The availability of above congenial climatic conditions for the cultivation of varied kinds or varieties of planting material in general, is very much related with the success of the flowering bulb propagation in Kashmir. It has been proved that we can extend the flowering bulb propagation activity to the other parts of the state and can involve our farmers at large in this Programme with area specific flowering bulb species or varieties in respective districts.
In order to fulfill the current demand of 18 million lilium bulbs only (when there are many more varieties in demand) our state needs to cover an area of about 90 hectare (1800 kanals). Besides the activity can generate employment for 2000 labourers and 100 executives annually, we can earn a foreign exchange of about US$ 4.0 million and our farmer can earn a profit from Rs. 6,000 to 10,000 per kanal which is much higher than that of the traditional crops. The demand can increase with the increase of the production and there is a vast scope for the production of the other flowering bulbs as well. Many companies from India have approached to our department for the supply of these flowering bulbs and we are hopeful that many more will come soon in near future.
In view of the above circumstances a Tulip garden in the vicinity of the Srinagar city, besides an attraction for the local as well as foreign tourists, can serve as a gene bank of the Tulip Bulb species for whole world, hence can have recreational, educational, economical and social importance for our future generations. With this encouragement we are looking for the propagation of other flowering bulbs such as Hyacinthus, Gladioli, Freesias, Peonies, Alstroemeria, Iris etc. on commercial scale, soon in near future. APEDA, NHB and other the agencies responsible for the development of commercial floriculture industry of India has to play an important role by forwarding their help and support to the state government as well as to the private entrepreneurs who shall be working for establishment of their Flowering Bulbs Production Units in the state.
If the project is continued in its letter and sprit, we shall not be only fulfilling the domestic demand but can export to Asian and African countries as well. Thus can earn a huge sum of foreign exchange with employment generation for our unemployed youth. And the day shall not be far away when J&K shall be very much known for the Flowering Bulb Production regions of the world, if not at par with that of Holland, however, comparable with the Flowering Bulb Producing Nations of the world.
