Wayanad to host Orchid Fest-2018

National conference-cum-workshop, orchid show to be part of three-day international event

Orchid Fest-2018, a three-day international orchid festival being organised jointly by the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare, Kerala Agricultural University, and Orchid Society of India, will be held at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) of the university at Ambalavayal in Wayanad district on March 16, 17, and 18.

There will be a national conference-cum-workshop by the Orchid Society of India on ‘Current trends in conservation, sustainable development, and biological and social benefits of medicinally and floriculturally significant orchids’, P. Rajendran, associate director of research, RARS, Ambalavayal, told The Hindu .

The conference will address orchid diversity, assessment, and taxonomy; biology, restoration ecology, and improvement; propagation and conservation; medicinal and floricultural utility; and commercialisation and development for societal benefits, Dr. Rajendran added.

“We have to learn lessons from the small State of Sikkim that flourishes through floriculture,” Dr. Rajendran said, adding that nearly 70% income of that State was contributed by the orchid industry. Moreover, 90% of the business was managed by women, he added.

The climate of the hill district was quite similar to Sikkim, but the commercial potential of orchid farming was yet to be tapped here, he said.

Coffee plantations

“Orchids can be easily grown on coffee plants and it will provide additional income to coffee growers,” Dr. Rajendran said. A group of progressive orchid farmers from Sikkim will also participate in the programme.

Agriculture Mister V.S .Sunil Kumar will inaugurate the programme at 10 a.m. on March 16 . The Minister will formally declare the district as ‘special agriculture zone’ for floriculture and speciality rice on the occasion.

An orchid show depicting live plants, photographs, and paintings for creating awareness about the importance of genetic (morphological) diversity in orchids would be a major part of the programme.

Different orchid species and hybrids will be exhibited in around 200 stalls, besides those that are botanically, medicinally, and economically significant.