PAU vision, its alumnus’ passion put Langrian on floriculture map

The vision of faculty at the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and the passion of its alumnus Avtar Singh Dhindsa have paved the foundation of one of the most remunerative diversification of land, floriculture and cultivation of flower seeds.

Born and brought up in Langrian village of Amargarh Assembly segment, Avtar started his venture on 3.5 acres four decades ago and was now flower king of north India, exporting flowers and seeds across continents, including countries like US, Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia.

Having done postgraduate degree in landscaping and floriculture in 1979, Avtar launched a new trend of evoking aesthetic sense among residents of urban localities through his expertise in landscape consultancy. Outskirts of Langrian village was the area used for floriculture, landscaping and cultivation of flower seeds under the banner of Beauscape Farm in 1985, with cultivation of ornamental flowering plants on 3.5 acres.

The company is presently producing vegetable seeds on 3,000 acres and flower seeds on 1,500 acres for large companies of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and some European countries. A programme launched to grow vegetable seeds has also been extended to Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu Kashmir, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Showing satisfaction over the progress made over the last four decades, Avtar appreciated that more than 3,000 rural labourers associated with him had prayed for his overwhelming success as a token of gratitude for uplifting their standard of living. A number of labourers, predominantly women, between 10,000 and 15,000 are engaged during the vegetable seed production season.

“I, along with my family feel indebted to the Almighty that the venture has fetched laurels to my native village, besides strengthening our economic position,” said Avtar while acknowledging that celebrities, including nature lovers, ecologists, actors and political leaders, have been visiting his farms for appreciating the multi-coloured flower beds during blooming seasons.

Shooting for Yash Chopra directed Shahrukh Khan’s movie ‘Veer Zara’ had also fetched him applause when people from all parts of north India came to know about the venture.

Dhindsa said he did not intend to earn income by letting organisers of functions play with nature’s creations nurtured by human hands.

State Award (1994), National Award (1995), Ludhiana Management Association’s Innovative Entrepreneur Award (1998), Nishan-e-Khalsa Award (1999), Best Farmer Award (PAU 2001) and Punjab State Award on occasion of 550th Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev were among major facilitations he has received so far.

Avtar said diversification in floriculture could have been more extensive, had the entrepreneurs focussed on providing advanced technology to the labour. Even unemployed youth, by acquiring the required organised knowledge and availing of government subsidies linked to loans can aim to reach the peak in the profession, he added.