By Ranjan K Baruah
Flowers are integral part of any celebration in our society. Whether religious celebration or parties and other events, flowers are being used all the time for decorations. Earlier, we had published about horticulture and in this edition we are publishing another part of horticulture, which is known as floriculture. Like flowers, ornamental plants are associated with our civilisation since time immemorial.
We have seen that people manages their gardens for domestic needs and flower gardening is a hobby for many but we can make it in large scale for commercial purposes. Floriculture is an important branch of horticulture, which deals with cut or loose flowers, ornamental plants, such as foliage plants, trees, shrubs, climbers, palms, bamboo, cacti and succulents, dried flowers, essential oils and landscape gardening.
The floriculture industry in India comprises flower production and trade of flowers, nursery and potted plants, seeds and bulbs, nursery, plant rental services, propagation through tissue culture and essential oils extraction. The industry needs to be enhanced when it comes to the northeastern region. Though there are scopes but many things need to be done, including motivating the youth here.
The Centre has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 per cent export-oriented status.
Few recommended plants which can give commercial benefits in the North East include cymbidium, gladiolus, lilium, dendrobium/vandas, anthurium and foliage plants. Few states like Mizoram may focus on rose and other flowers too depend on the conditions. There are not many areas under flowers or ornamental plants in spite of having demand. In the present situation when many youth have returned to their home state, they may try and get engaged in these options and start new initiatives.
Students may choose to get admission in agriculture universities or courses and take up floriculture as their academic subjects. All those who want to be entrepreneur and want to start business may not study the subject but it is preferable to study the subject for more success.
ICAR DFR: ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (DFR) is under Indian Council of Agricultural Research and was formally launched on December 10, 2009, during the XIX Group Meeting of All India Coordinated Research Project on Floriculture held at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, to promote and strengthen floricultural research and enhance the technological base in floriculture. ICAR-DFR is first of its kind in the country. Initially it was up in IARI campus on temporary basis. Set in February 2014, the directorate was shifted to its new location ie College of Agriculture Campus, Shivajinagar, Pune 411005. Presently, AICRP on floriculture is an integral part of the DFR, having 21 centres comprising 15 budgetary, four institutional and two voluntary centres.
As floriculture brings opportunity, many youth may get engaged in floriculture activities. It may include from plating to marketing and other activities. One may get information from APEDA and other agricultural institutes. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), is responsible for export promotion and development of floriculture in India.
(The author is a career mentor and can be reached at [email protected] or 8473943734 for any career related queries)