Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 23
IN A major boost to floriculture, Lilium products from Nagaland has found its place on the commercial map with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launching the first sale activity herey this morning.
Pleased with the new venture where it has reached the stage of selling the products outside the state, Rio stated that the government will take the potential of floriculture very seriously.
The time has come for the people of the state to take it as ‘serious business,’ he said while gracing the function of “Exposition on commercial Floriculture” here at Vibrant Growers at AG Colony.
Rio stressed the need to create mass awareness on commercial floriculture, adding that the state wanted to compete in the international market. The growers should take advantage of the buy back policy, he said and termed such approach as ‘quite safe for growers.’
In view of the declaration of the year 2006 as the “Year of Farmers,” Rio asked the department of Horticulture to give special training on floriculture and at the same time to include Rose species taking into account the demand both within and outside the state.
Encouraged by the good quality of Lilium, Nagaland Medical Minister Dr. TM Lotha observed that the entire state was viable for floriculture activities and wanted to see that the floriculture enter into commercial scale in a bigger way.
The entrepreneurs have around 15,000 stems of Liliums fetching around Rs. 25-35 per stem to be sold at a single time with around 35,000 bulbs in the farmers’ field, said Nyeiwang Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary, Horticulture.
Horticulture Secretary LH Thangi Mannen said the concept of commercial floriculture had evolved out of the necessity to showcase a very tangible aspect of horticulture promotion in the state, which would be both appealing to the people as well meaningful in terms of revenue generation.
“Our Liliums have already reached the Delhi Market and are in high demand, as the quality is competitive if not better than the ones grown in UP and other states,” she added.
S.D. Gutgutia MD Florence Flora Bangalore also promised to buy the products and stressed the need for more effort for development of floriculture in the state.
Rajesh Prasad, MD Zopar Exports maintained that the response was good as far as the quality is concerned from Nagaland and termed is as one of the best quality in the country.
Prasad observed that the kind of Liliums produced here will never face selling problem.
Morung Express News
