Other States - Orissa   

Floriculture: a story of missed opportunities

BERHAMPUR: Lack of infrastructure is hampering the prospect of floriculture in Orissa, although there is an ever-increasing demand from flowers in the market. As per an assessment, flowers worth more than ten crore rupees are sold in various markets of Orissa. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela , Sambalpur and Balasore are said to be the main markets. Despite huge market potential, Orissa is mostly dependent on import of flowers from States like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Although this large-scale import of flowers suggests scope for floriculture in Orissa, the lack of infrastructure is dissuading farmers to take up this delicate cultivation, say the members of the Ganjam District Flower Growers’ Association.

No flower ‘mandi’, cold storage or auction zone has come up for the flower growers of the area despite repeated demands and promises, said Goura Chandra Patro, president of the association. It may be noted that there was a proposal for establishment of four flower ‘Mandis’ along with cold storage facilities in Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Balasore.

The Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar ‘Mandi’ have come up but the Berhampur Mandi is yet to come up although flower growers are more organised in Ganjam district. It may be noted that Ganjam is also under the National Horticulture Mission.

Prospect of commercial cultivation of marigold, tube rose, roses, gladiolus, orchids, chrysanthemum, aster, gerbera is quite high in regions of south Orissa. But infrastructure for storage and marketing of flowers has to be developed in Berhampur, the major trading center of south Orissa. It has not been done yet.

As per horticulture experts, Daringbadi area of Kandhamal district and Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district and Chandragiri of Gajapati district are suitable for orchid cultivation.

These flowers have export prospects but for that it needs better transportation and market network as flowers are to be marketed within a time frame with proper preservation.

It also needs special programmes on floriculture which has to be market driven and agro-climate specific.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Safe blood distribution week opens
RSP: smart moves help tide over crisis
Floriculture: a story of missed opportunities
Momentous occasion
Safety matters
Corporation status sought
Jailed in graft case
Pen down strike
BU celebrates Foundation Day
Tragedy strikes picnickers, woman dies
Contests for students
In search of peace in Kandhamal
Dhirendra Nath passes away
Two injured as bombs explode
Police asked to be sensitive to woes of poor
Maoists deny reports of split in party

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu