Botanical Garden blooms with exotic flowers

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 22

A flower show hosting nearly 10,000 exotic flowers of different varieties was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday at the city’s Botanical Garden.

Various varieties on display at the garden, situated close to the banks of the Dal lake, included roses, gladioli, lilies, and medicinal and aromatic plants. Flower growers from all over the Valley are participating in the “Kashmir Flower Show” organised by the Floriculture Department, Kashmir, and Tourism Department, Kashmir.

An official spokesman said around 10,000 exotic flowers of different varieties were displayed at the show. The Chief Minister, who inaugurated the show, emphasised upon online marketing of flowers and urged the farmers to take benefit from various government schemes for promotion of floriculture.

She also asked the Floriculture Department to familiarise the farmers with the latest techniques in flower cultivation, conservation and exhibition.

“Keeping in view the huge potential, the possibility of increasing the budget for promotion of floriculture as a commercial activity will be explored,” she said. She also advised the flower growers to adopt best practices like micro-irrigation and flower seed protection to promote their industry.

The Chief Minister also interacted with a number of flower growers at the show. She was briefed about the huge potential in the Valley about cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants, specifically lavender and rose oils. She was informed that a target of 5,000 hectare has been fixed for lavender cultivation, given its high market value.

The Chief Minister appreciated the farmers in cultivating flowers and medicinal and aromatic plants of such a wide-ranging variety.

Minister for Floriculture, Gardens and Parks Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, Sonwar MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Floriculture, Gardens and Parks Secretary Farooq A Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq A Lone, and Director, Floriculture, Talat Pervez, also attended the inaugural ceremony.