SHILLONG: The Shillong Agri-Horticuluture Society, Directorate of Agriculture, Cleve Colony is all set to host the annual Autumn Flower 2019 show at the State Central Library on Thursday and Friday.
The receipt of exhibits will be on Wednesday from 8 am to 12 noon and judging of exhibits will be held between 1 pm and 3 pm. On Thursday, the show will be open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, while on Friday, the show will be open from 10 am to 4 pm followed by the closing function and prize distribution.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, secretary of the Shillong Agri-Horticuluture Society, Directorate of Agriculture, A Dkhar said that the floriculture has a great potential for the state as the climatic condition is highly favorable for cultivation of flowers.
Besides, floriculture also includes landscaping which will boost tourism.
For the flower show, he said that from the nursery side there will be 39-40 who assured their participation. The Society is looking forward to have around 1000 exhibits or specimens which exclude sale.
“The response to the Autumn flower shows is overwhelming and there are many visitors coming who visit the flower shows. There is a focus on Chrysanthemum focus, Impatiens, Azaleas and other seasonal flowers. In the orchid section, there are exotic species such as Lady Slippers, Vanda Orchids, Mokara Orchid etc,” he said.
He informed that the flower shows are organised annually since 1977 right from the inception of the society in the year 1977.
The Shillong Agri-Horticuluture Society is a registered organisation in collaboration with the department of Agriculture and the members are mostly the agricultural officers, horticultural officers and few members from outside.
He said the objective of the society is to organize autumn and spring shows and programmes on capacity building and publishing information on leaflets for the benefit of the farmers.
Dkhar informed that the jurisdiction of the society was for the whole state but since other societies have started coming up in the districts, therefore, it is currently limited to East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi.
“In collaboration with the department there are many farmers who have benefitted from the scheme given by the department in the aspect of raising saplings, production of planting materials of flowers be it seasonal, perennial, ornamental, biennials,” he said.
Mawkriah village has a number of nurseries and other villages include some areas in Mawreng, Mawngap and Mawlai.
