Harnessing floriculture for socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir

Introduction

Floriculture, the art and science of cultivating flowers for commercial purposes, has emerged as a lucrative venture globally, and India stands at the forefront of this booming industry. With its conducive climate and burgeoning demand, India’s floriculture sector has witnessed exponential growth, spearheading economic prosperity. Among the states and union territories tapping into this potential, Jammu and Kashmir stands out as a promising frontier for floriculture, ready to transform the agricultural scene in the region.

Jammu and Kashmir, where agriculture forms the backbone of livelihoods for a significant portion of the population, presents a fertile ground for the cultivation of diverse flora. From potted plants to exotic blooms, the region has a diverse selection of flowers that meet the needs of both local and global markets. With a burgeoning demand for flowers and floral products, driven by evolving lifestyles and urban expansion, the scope for floriculture in the valley is boundless.

Additionally, we analyze the different initiatives launched by governmental and non-governmental organizations to strengthen the floriculture industry, supporting the development of infrastructure, expansion of markets, and improvement of skills. Through strategic actions and cooperative efforts, stakeholders strive to elevate Jammu and Kashmir to international prominence in floriculture, leveraging its inherent advantages and natural resources.

Prospects of Floriculture in Jammu and Kashmir

Floriculture has become one of the most significant commercial trades in agriculture. It is a rapidly growing agri-industrial sector worldwide, particularly as a potential moneymaker for many countries. Due to the continual increase in demand, floriculture is also seen as a high-growth business in India.

The liberalized economy has encouraged Indian businesses to establish export-oriented floriculture operations in climate-controlled environments. This sector generates higher returns per hectare than any other agricultural commodity. The Indian floriculture sector was valued at Rs. 9000 crores in 2016-17 and increased to Rs. 15700 crores in 2018. The market is expected to reach Rs. 47200 crores by 2024, with a 20% CAGR between 2019 and 2024. Nationally, the domestic Indian market is growing at a rate of 25% per year. India ranks 18th in the world, with a 0.6% share of the global floriculture trade.

The majority of the population in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 70%, depends on agriculture and allied sectors for their livelihood. These sectors contribute nearly 50% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Given the highly conducive climate and soil, various kinds of flowers, especially perennials, grow in different locations across our region. Floriculture products consist mainly of potted plants, cut foliage and flowers, seeds, bulbs, tubers, rooted cuttings, and dried flowers or leaves. The demand for flowers and floral products is increasing as lifestyles change and cities grow. Flowers are also good business. Millions are sold and processed into edibles, oils, dyes, medicines, beverages, incense sticks, cosmetics, powders, and various other value-added products. During full bloom, their ephemeral beauty attracts admirers. Throughout their natural life cycle, and even beyond, they are sources of beauty and business. Some important floricultural crops in the international cut flower trade include roses, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, carnations, orchids, gladioli, gerberas, Liatris, tulips, gypsophilas, nerines, achilleas, and lilies.

According to recent reports, apart from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the former state of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the important Himalayan states progressing in commercial floriculture. Consequently, the Indian government has designated floriculture as a sunrise sector with a 100% export-oriented status.

An increase in floriculture startups signals prosperity within the valley.

According to surveys conducted in 2020, around 250,000 youth are unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Many of these individuals are seeking innovative livelihood options. These youngsters often belong to families that own little to no land.

Local demand for developing parks, highway avenue plantings, and home and public gardens is a sector identified for ensuring livelihood security for unemployed youth in Kashmir. Home gardening, in particular, is an emerging trend, especially in Srinagar and its surrounding towns and villages. The average charge per house, hotel, or office with an area of 500 m² ranges from Rs. 3000 to 4000 for two visits per month, excluding planting charges. Initiatives like floriculture are therefore welcome, as they can provide employment opportunities for the jobless segments of society.

Landscape gardening is an integral part of home gardening. The green concept has developed to such an extent that seeds and plants are now imported from European countries. Ornamental annuals and perennials are also in great demand. Additionally, turf grasses are highly sought after.

National highway projects and smart city projects have a great demand for ornamental flora. Pot plants worth Rs. 2 to 3 crores are imported annually to Kashmir from other regions. This indicates the scope and potential of landscape gardening in the valley, highlighting the need for developing organized commercial floriculture units. These units, in turn, will aid in entrepreneurship development and livelihood security, particularly aiming at empowering women, youth, and small landholding farmers.

With Kashmir’s agro-climatic conditions highly suitable for seed production, the next step is investing in capacity building and skill development to fulfil the livelihood and sustainability needs of unemployed Kashmiri youth. To achieve this, it is necessary to share and teach methods of propagating ornamentals and utilizing floral wealth for landscape design. Knowledge about the value of individual flora and their suitability for particular landscapes is another important aspect of successful landscape design.

Horticulture therapy is an additional aspect of horticultural science that utilizes landscape plants, gardens, plant components, and growing activities as tools to heal psychological impairments. Bio-aesthetic horticulture is emerging as a tool in occupational therapy to restore lost harmony and rhythm in individuals. It is utilized in psychiatric and general hospitals, physical rehabilitation centres, schools, correctional facilities, and senior living facilities.

Why should Kashmir focus on developing the floriculture industry?

Kashmir’s agro-climatic conditions are favourable for seed production of annuals with high-quality standards. India imports around 20 crores of bulbs of Tulip, Lilium, Hyacinth, etc., annually from Holland, incurring enormous foreign exchange costs. Kashmir is the only place in India suitable for large-scale bulb production of these highly valued crops. The global floriculture trade is estimated to touch US $100 billion, promising prosperity to our region. The main flower markets of Europe and the USA are mostly temperate, so there is great scope for Kashmir’s temperate flower industry to thrive in the international market. Cheap labour costs and climatic suitability will further boost this industry in the valley compared to Western countries. Connectivity to national and international markets via trade fairs will bolster the economy. Monopoly, particularly in bulb production, will give Kashmir an upper hand in exports. Production of cut flowers under open field conditions and off-season cultivation of flowers for the plains will also enhance tourism and trade within the country.

Livelihood Generation, Flower Valleys, and the Aroma Mission

The cultivation of lavender as part of commercial floriculture has transformed the fortunes of farmers in Jammu and Kashmir under the ‘Aroma Mission’ or ‘Purple Revolution’. This initiative by the Central government aims to improve the lives of our Union Territory’s farming community. Bhaderwah is now not only the birthplace and capital of India’s Purple Revolution but is also heading towards becoming the ‘Bulgaria of India’.

This mission aimed to support the domestic aromatic crop-based agro-economy by transitioning from imported aromatic oils to home-grown varieties. First-time farmers were provided with free saplings, while expert lavender cultivators were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.

Unemployed youth and farmers are required to register under the schemes and start their own businesses in loose and cut flower production, ornamental nursery operations, aromatic plant cultivation, and the use of integrated farming for employment and revenue generation.

Patnitop Development Authority, on the other hand, has created a flower valley in its high-altitude meadow by planting thousands of seedlings to adorn its green landscape with a galaxy of colours.

Positioned within the Patnitop tourism circuit, this initiative aims to boost tourism, biodiversity, and socio-economic development. In the initial phase of the project, more than 90,000 seedlings of flowering plants, mostly lavender, were planted over an area of 12.50 acres.

Other flowering plants, including varieties of cosmos and marigolds, numbering nearly 20,000, were also planted according to their appropriate seasons in 2021 and 2022. However, full bloom is most likely expected to occur in the month of March-April 2023.

Schemes and Programs for Floriculture Development

The nodal institution for promoting agri-exports, including flowers, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), has launched several programs aimed at boosting India’s floriculture exports. These programs encompass packaging, infrastructural development, airfreight subsidies, market expansion for the export of cut flowers and tissue-cultured plants, database upgrades, and more. Purely export-oriented units are also eligible for incentives such as duty-free imports of capital goods. Additionally, the authority has reduced import duties on cut flowers, seeds, tissue-cultured plants, and other items. Initiatives have been initiated at many international airports to assist exporters by providing walk-in cold storage and cargo handling facilities for perishable products. Direct subsidies of up to 50% are also available for cold storage units. Furthermore, APEDA provides subsidies for improved packaging materials to encourage their usage.

NABARD offers financial support to hi-tech units at reasonable interest rates to encourage entrepreneurship in the floriculture sector. The government of India has launched several schemes to promote and develop the floriculture sector. One of these includes the Integrated Development of Commercial Floriculture, which aims to improve traditional flower and cut flower production and productivity through the availability of quality planting material. The production of off-season and high-quality flowers through protected cultivation is also ensured, along with improvements in post-harvest handling of flowers and training individuals in scientific floriculture. Many state governments have established distinct ministries to promote floriculture in their respective jurisdictions. Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) like MIDH, RKVY, and ATMA are being implemented for the promotion of the commercial floriculture sector in the UT. The concerned Floriculture Department organizes regular training sessions within and outside Jammu and Kashmir for farmers and growers to make them aware of modern trends in the sector.

Conclusion

The prospects of floriculture in Jammu and Kashmir stand at the intersection of economic prosperity, environmental conservation, and socio-economic development. With its conducive climate, diverse flora, and burgeoning demand, the region holds immense potential to emerge as a powerhouse in the floricultural industry.

The exponential growth witnessed in India’s floriculture sector, coupled with the conducive agro-climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir, signifies a golden opportunity for the region to capitalize on this thriving industry. The liberalized economy has paved the way for export-oriented floriculture operations, positioning India as a key player in the global market.

The socio-economic implications of floriculture in the valley are profound. With a significant portion of the population reliant on agriculture for livelihood, the flourishing floriculture industry offers a ray of hope, particularly for the unemployed youth seeking innovative livelihood options. Initiatives such as the ‘Aroma Mission’ and the establishment of flower valleys underscore the transformative potential of floriculture in uplifting communities and driving socio-economic development.

Moreover, governmental and non-governmental initiatives aimed at strengthening the floriculture sector through infrastructure development, market expansion, and skill enhancement further amplify the prospects of the industry in the region. Strategic interventions and collaborative endeavours are key to propelling Jammu and Kashmir onto the global stage as a beacon of floricultural excellence, leveraging its inherent strengths and natural endowments.

As Kashmir focuses on developing its floriculture industry, it not only promises economic prosperity but also holds the potential to foster entrepreneurship, empower marginalized segments of society, and contribute to sustainable development. With concerted efforts and continued support, the blooming floriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir is poised to redefine the agricultural landscape and chart a path towards inclusive growth and prosperity for all.

References:

1. https://theprint.in/india/flower-valley-carved-out-in-patnitop-to-attract-tourists/1219781/

2. http://risingkashmir.com/-kashmirs-floriculture-sector-suitability-and-opportunities

3. https://www.businesskashmir.com/2021/08/23/floriculture-startups-kashmir/amp/

4. http://risingkashmir.com/commercial-floriculture-emerging-as-new-form-of-employment-across-jk

5. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/2256723-n-e-agriculturists-throng-capital-of-lavender-farming-jk-to-learn-mission-aroma

6. http://www.dofkashmir.com/Default.aspx