SHILLONG: Housing around 20 species of orchids, the 6000 square feet state-of-the-art orchidarium is one-of-its-kind in the country having climate controlled system.
The orchidarium, nestled in the hills of Upper Shillong, aims to draw locals and tourists. The entrance, which is still under construction, will be ready by the end of the month, Director of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Dinabandhu Sahoo said.
He said the IBSD is promoting orchid based bio-entrepreneurship to strengthen the bio-economy of the region as a major flagship programme.
Northeast India houses about 900 species of orchids of which Meghalaya boasts of 439.
According to him, in the orchidarium, which was inaugurated last year, tourists, scholars and flower lovers can view several species in one place like in Thailand, Singapore, Japan, England and many other countries.
With orchid cultivation seen as an entrepreneurial venture, Sahoo said the IBSD has trained 1000 people from the North East at its centre in Manipur in the field of orchid farming.
He also informed that the institute has opened an orchid production unit at Tura with the help of the state government and plans to open 20 more such units in the entire state.
Sahoo said Northeastern India will be ideal for large scale orchid production because of its climate and other factors.
As for the do’s and don’ts while visiting the orchidarium, he said that touching and plucking of the orchids are not allowed as these are sensitive and could be easily contaminated.
