Assam cabinet: The Assam government decided on January 30 to establish a “State Floriculture Mission” with an initial investment of Rs 150 crores.
“There is a huge floral market in the state,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference. “However, from orchids to other varieties of flowers, they are procured either from West Bengal or even from Thailand.”
Furthermore, in Assam, there is a local market in and around all temples and Satras, so the state government has decided to establish a ‘State Floriculture Mission,’ with at least 20,000 farmers involved and an initial investment of Rs 1.50 crore.
As part of our endeavour to take governance closer to people, today’s #AssamCabinet meeting was held at Dibrugarh.
We took decisions related to Floriculture Mission, investment in power sector, new Raj Bhavan, linking Pandu Port with NH-27, uplift of police stations, etc. pic.twitter.com/Ts50fHyyZw
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 30, 2023
This follows in the footsteps of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, in which floral farmers in the state can be as self-sufficient as they are with paddy or fish.
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On January 1, 2023, rural Khumtai in eastern Assam showcased bougainvillaeas, roses, tuberoses, and many other varieties at a special carnival in Golaghat district.
More than 10,000 people attended a two-day ‘flower carnival’ at Jugibari Rural Tourism Centre, which ended on January 1.
Mrinal Saikia, MLA for Khumtai, stated that the flowers grow abundantly in all households in the area and that they want to make people aware that they can also be used as a source of income.
State Floriculture Mission to be implemented with following proposed activities:
❖ Area expansion – From 2,200 to 3,288 hectare over a period of 3 years
Open flower cultivation – Summer & Winter Marigold, Gladiolus, Tube Rose, Chrysanthemum, Lotus, Lilium
❖ Flower cultivation under protected condition – Gerbera, Orchid, Green Foliage, Dutch Rose & Anthurium
Post-harvest Management, Pack house & Pre-cooling facilities,
Transport vehicles, Refrigerated vans and Plastic crates
❖ Value addition – Establishment of Agarbatti units, Essential & Aromatic Oil production unit.
❖ Development of Wholesale Market facilities and Floriculture Retail Outlets
Estimated direct benefit to 20,000 farmers
Initial investment: 150 cr
