Minister of State for Tourism, Floriculture and Culture, Priya Sethi today said that the government, in its endeavor to increase the commercial aspect of Floriculture for revenue generation, would soon come up with a fresh policy envisaging added incentives and latest technological innovations for flower growers of the state.Priya Sethi while chairing a joint meeting of officers and flower growers, emphasized keenness of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for reviving and rejuvenating the Floriculture department as a vital government entity capable of raising economic profile of the state with huge employment generation.“Jammu and Kashmir has abundant potential and possibility of emerging as a hub of unique variety of world famous flowers and it is firm commitment of present dispensation to exploit this blessing to the optimum”, she maintained.Enumerating on the new policy, the Minister said the revised document would have special focus on commercial aspect, research, skill development, marketing and enhanced incentives, creation of flower mandies and facility of cold stores and refrigerated vehicles, single window system, more vermi-compost units, HYV seeds, regular guidance etc. Besides, possibilities are being explored to get space for state’s flower export at Delhi.Priya Sethi exhorted upon the officers to conduct a comprehensive survey district wise regarding the potential and scope of developing floriculture as a major avocation so that the facilities are extended accordingly under the policy. She asked them to work out effective plans for making Jammu and Kashmir hub of high quality flower production.
The Minister, while elaborating on initiatives of the government in the field, said that a Memorandum of Understanding has been proposed with SKAUST for training of flower growers in latest technical knowhow so that their skills are further refined. She informed that Center of Excellence have been given to each Jammu and Srinagar for research and development of the sector in State.Besides, extremely luring tulip gardens are being developed in Kud and Sanasar apart from upgrading such existing utilities, she added saying that the emphasis is also being laid on equipping the departmental units with sufficient staff and structure so that the people get requisite services in time. The aim of the government is to minimize the pollution in the region by way of maintaining existing parks and gardens besides developing new thus further expanding the flower crops area, she added.The Minister also asked the officers to see the feasibility of establishing 3 cold stores, one each to cater to Bani-Basholi circuit, Doda-Kishtwar circuit, and Jammu circuit so that the flowers produced after hard toil are not spoiled just for lack of such services. Special refrigerated trucks will also be made available for transportation of the produce, she added.She also asked them to work out plans for recycling of flowers.
She said that efforts would be made to bring down flower import so that the targets of healthy exports are achieved.Expressing concern over rapid increase in conversion of agriculture land into commercial spaces, the Minister exhorted upon the need of a fast check on the menace which ultimately will lead the mankind towards self destruction. “There is an alarming need of raising awareness among the people regarding the significance protecting agriculture lands on which human survival depends to big extent”, she asserted.The flower growers of Jammu region apprised the Minister of various issues which inter alia include tax exemption on polygreen houses, more subsidies on loans under KCC, taxation of flower imports, marketing support, timely availability of planting material, single window clearance system, filling up of staff shortage etc.Secretary Floriculture Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Manisha Devi Sharma, Joint Director, Deputy Director, Project Directors, Assistant Floriculture Officer, President Flower Growers Association besides flower growers in large numbers were present in the meeting.