News: Kashmir govt, Dutch firm in horticulture tie-up

(BS 12/05/2006) New Delhi - For the first time, the Jammu and Kashmir government, in collaboration with a Dutch company, has entered into a joint venture to promote commercial floriculture. Both have an equal stake in the venture.

To begin with, the agriculture department has imported about half a million lilium bulbs through the Dutch company VWS (VOSS Pe WAARD Sijm), and planted them at a floriculture centre in Srinagar. The imported bulbs cost 30,000 euros (about Rs 17,000,000).

"This project could be a turning point in the socio-economic transformation of the farmers. There is a great demand for flower buds in the international market, which can be tapped by exploiting the vast floriculture potential in the state," Minister for Agriculture and cooperatives, Abdul Aziz Zargar, said while launching the programme.

The state government has also purchased three imported machines for Rs 14,000,000 from Holland for mechanised sowing and harvesting of the lilium bulbs.

"This is the most important intervention in the agriculture sector. Climate is on our side and we are hopeful that it will take our state to higher levels," Secretary Agriculture Department Nayeem Akhtar told Business Standard.

Kashmir is the only place in India where lilium buds can be cultivated owing to is suitable agro-climatic conditions. The bulbs, after multiplication at the floriculture centres, would be supplied to the farmers for its further propagation and commercial exploitation.

In order to exploit the floriculture potential of the state, the state government has sought help from Bangalore-based Nadeem Ahmed who is Asia's largest floriculturist. He will be a consulatnt to the agriculture department.

Under the partnership agreement, two consultants from Holland will visit the site eight times per crop season to monitor progress of the project.

"Kashmir has a good future and potential for commercial floriculture," Dutch consultant, John Brose said.

According to floriculture experts, India presently imports lilium buds from Holland at a cost of Rs 20 per bulb while bulbs produced in the Kashmir can be exported at only Rs 10 per bud against estimated investment cost of Rs 6 per bud. "Flower bulbs produced in the valley has both cost as well as quality advantage," Zargar said.

Diversification in agriculture under joint venture partnership between the state government and the Dutch company could enable farmers to earn good dividends besides saving foreign exchange.

"The lilium buds are not only imported n the country but in entire South Asia from Holland. So countries in South Asia can import bulbs from us rather than all the way from Holland. Besides there will be no marketing problem since the Dutch company is our partner. They too are optimistic," Akhtar said.