INDIAN FLORICULTURE

Solan, April 22 06' (ANI) : 
Mohaq Bag, a village situated in the fascinating district of Solan in Himachal Pradesh, is a place to reckon with, especially, when it comes to flowers. With the flower business picking up as a great venture for prosperity, the Mohaq Bag has turned into a model village for farmers in other parts of the country.

Instead of growing traditional crops like wheat or paddy, the entire land holding around the villages is bearing flower crops of different varieties. 
For these enterprising farmers of Mohaq Bag village, the flower farming is a great source of earning their livelihood. Today, almost all villagers are into flower farming and are making a decent living.

The reason for a flourishing flower business can be attributed to the climatic conditions that prove ideal for the growth of flowers here.

"The climate of this village is very moderate, which is most suitable for floriculture. This business of flower cultivation demands technical skills, from seeding to harvesting and a special attention by the farmers," said Kuldeep, a floriculturist from Mahaq Bag.

"We have build green houses to raise the crops, and some of the varieties of flowers are grown in the open fields. We grow five to six species like carnation, lithanium, gladulous , chrythanium and roses. We make carnations up to 30 cms, make beds, and do plantations. And, the material for plantation is brought from Holland, Pune, or Bangalore. In the green houses, maximum temperature is 25 degrees and the minimum is 18 degrees," said Kuldeep.

For females in Himachal Pradesh, traditional farming involves tough labour.The women of this village find flower farming interesting as it involves light labour and women are good in ploughing, packaging, and buddding of the flowers.

"This occupation of flower-farming is labour intensive and yields good return to villages. This has indeed generated good dividends for the farmers as they have shifted from traditional farming to cash crops. It has also attracted a lot of youth of this generation towards this occupation. It's a 10 to 12 lakh annually generating industry. The Horticulture Department gives an annual aid of 40 to 50 per cent, which is a very supportive step by the Government, "said Bhanu, a flower grower from Mahaq Bag.

But the flower farmers are confronting problems regarding marketing of their produce, which has become a concern for them.

Besides selling it locally, the farmers of this village sell their produce in Delhi and Chandigarh. The farmers in Mohaq Bag are highly influenced by the popular markets existing in Delhi. They are now seeking a similar market to be set up in the neighbourhood. 
In Himachal Pradesh, floriculture has come out as a booming industry, generating huge employment for the young and the old in rural areas.

Himachal Pradesh offers unique opportunities to develop cut flower trade because of abundant rain fall, bright sunshine and pollution free environment. In the past few years, quite a few growers have taken to commercial growing of flowers which include gladioli, chrysanthemum, carnation, tuberose, liliums, tulips, and orchids.

A big investment in the floriculture industry by private entrepreneurs, who have taken up land on lease, has given an impetus to floriculture.

In Himachal Pradesh, the total area under floriculture has gone up to 325 hectares with flowers of different varieties like marigold, carnations, tulips, lilium, gladiolus and chrysanthemum being grown. A majority of these flowers except marigold and gladiolus have to be grown under controlled conditions in a polyhouse.

The Horticulture Department under the horticulture mission project is providing a number of incentives to the growers. There is separate provision for having additional facilities like drip, foggers, cooling and heating facility in a polyhouse, informed horticulture officials.

Hilly women too are keen to do flower-farming as it needs less labour as compared to the traditional farming. For the women of the state who are the backbone of agriculture, this profession is pleasant and more paying.

In the last ten years, the flower farming has increased to rupees 10 crores from one crore a decade ago.

(ANI)

Mohaq Bag villagers have made floriculture their main source of livelihood

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