Red, yellow, white & more, tulips offer a visual treat at Palampur garden

The Tulip Garden set up in the CSIR complex, 2 km from Palampur, along the Pathankot-Mandi national highway has been thrown open to the public. Red, yellow, white and multi-coloured tulips have been grown here this year, with the CSIR-IHBT adding more varieties of flowers.

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On the first day of its opening, a large number of people thronged to the Tulip Garden. Talking to reporters, CSIR Director  Sudesh Kumar Yadav said the tulips were expected to survive for about a month only.

“Tulip, which has its origin in Persia (Iran), was introduced in Europe in the 17th century, where it had been developed in different varieties. Holland is the largest producer of tulips,” Yadav added.

“Tulip is a tuberous cut flower that has a huge international and domestic demand. It ranks third in the world’s top-cut flower trade. Under the mission, the institute has been planting these flowers on its premises for the last three years. This year 55,000 tulip bulbs of different varieties of vibrant colours have been planted in the garden. The garden is expected to attract a large number of visitors from within and outside the state, thereby promoting scientific tourism. Also, they have bloomed earlier this time because of warmer climatic conditions,” he said.

Last year, over 80,000 visitors from across the country visited this garden. This time, far more visitors are anticipated. This is the first tulip garden of the state.

The CSIR-IHBT started experimental trials on flower and bulb production of tulip in the Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh for its commercial cultivation. To begin with, several farmers from cooperative societies such as Yaani Mahadev Floriculture Society, Madagran; Pattan Valley Floriculture Society Limited, Shansha; and Tinan White Mountain Floriculture Society Limited, Jangla, were trained and empowered to cultivate tulips. They are now engaged in tulip cultivation for bulb and flower production, and are reaping benefits. The institute is making a significant endeavour to offer new opportunities for attractive income generation to entrepreneurs and farmers engaged in the cultivation of these flowers and to make India self-reliant in tulip bulb production to meet the domestic demand of the country.

The institute aims at producing tulip bulbs to meet the annual domestic demand of the country for the next seven-eight years and make India self-reliant in this aspect.