Friday, October 23, 2009

J&K ideally suited for floriculture industry: Sham

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“Flower business can be very profitable, especially in J&K state where this industry has lot of potential as well as suitable climate to prosper”.

This was stated by Minister for Floriculture, Horticulture and Health, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma in the inaugural session of two- day workshop on Development of Commercial Floriculture (Including Tulip) in Jammu & Kashmir in Hotel Le Meridian here today.

The workshop has been collectively organized by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, GOI, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Department of Floriculture, Govt. of J&K.

He said that this is the right time for the Floriculture department along with the subject related agencies in the country to come forward and work in the state, as under the present leadership in the state and the centre the budgetary constraint is no more a matter of concern for the growth in Floriculture in J&K.

Our state has the potential and necessary support but to understand the supply-demand pattern both at the domestic, national as well as the international markets, workshops like these can be of great assistance. The Minister was also of the opinion that the said workshop should give a road map as to how the missing links can be identified and filled so that this natural resource can be developed thus generating lot of employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

The Minister of State for Floriculture, Horticulture, Health, Agriculture and R&B Mr. Javed Ahmed Dar was the Guest of Honor at the Workshop. He was very hopeful of the fact that holding the Workshop with all sections of the Flower Industry especially the growers and transporters participating itself shows the seriousness of the govt. towards the sector as well as the interest of the National Level players in the field to guide us. The Minister appreciated the efforts of Principal Secretary Agriculture Production, Floriculture and Horticulture Mrs. Sonali Kumar to have taken the initiative in this field and brought together different agencies to come together and help the state govt. in this field.

Mrs. Sonali Kumar in her introductory remarks conveyed lot of enthusiasm and hope in the very fact that if we are able to make use of this workshop in an effective manner it will surely be of great help to the Floriculture as an industry in the State. APEDA was represented by its Chairman Mr. Asit Tripathy and FAO by Mr. David Kahan. A special presentation was given by Mr Vijay Sardana, MD APRL and Consultant FAO on the Findings of the Field Survey of Value Chain of Floriculture.

The workshop was also attended by the growers from Jammu and Kashmir and people working in the field of Floriculture at different capacities. Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah is also expected to grace the workshop tomorrow and discuss the action plan so emerged.

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