An orchid plant in bloom

Dimapur, Sept. 2: The National Horticulture Board (NHB), an apex body under the Union ministry of agriculture, is providing back-ended subsidy for development of horticulture through production and post-harvesting management of the produce. The board aims at creating awareness of its activities, schemes and objectives among farmers and entrepreneurs of Nagaland.

Disclosing this at a press conference on Saturday at Hotel Japfu in Kohima, NHB assistant director Umed Singh said seminars on this issue have already been conducted at Kohima, Jalukie and Mokokchung. The board is also expected to cover other regions to promote marketing of fruit and other such produce in the state.

Umed Singh emphasised quality productivity so as to compete commercially not only within but also outside the state while marketing the products.

The Indian Floriculture Federation, registered with the Union ministry of agriculture, aims at developing high-quality horticultural farms in identified belts for production of flowers.

By turning such farms into commercial hubs, it wants to float associations of progressive growers of flowers for improvement and marketing as well as to create awareness about the introduction of new technology, concepts and marketing and introduce post-harvesting technology and strengthen cold chain infrastructure from the farm level to the market, including primary processing. Other goals are to improve linkages between producers and marketers, to increase producers’ share in consumer prices and to network for resource mobilisation with all other related agencies.

The Northeast holds tremendous potential, especially in terms of floriculture. Orchids from the state are in high demand and have the potential to create and widen the commercial market outside, said Vidyut Baruah, regional manager of APEDA under the ministry of commerce.

APEDA, as a step towards making floriculture a potential industry, recently resolved to grant 75 per cent subsidy on transportation of floriculture products to make the flower market stable and productive.

The floriculture federation, along with the NHB, will give grants-in-aid to projects upto Rs 10 lakh depending on the intensity of floriculture growth in the country. In the capital, the Kohima Flower Growers’ Association was formed with Narola Jamir as president, Zhanuo as secretary and V. Belho, Chubala, Nela Angami, Aneli, Moala, Khriengolienuo, N. Rai, Khenike, Abe Meru, Moala and Ningsang as executive members.

Intending to promote the floriculture industry from domestic cultivation to the commercial level, the state horticulture department has been requested to diversify the implementation of this programme on a large scale. At the same time, all growers can become members of this association as self-help groups or societies to channelise the schemes through the federation.