Northeast Desk, 4th August: In a significant development for the floriculture industry, Sikkim’s state flower, the orchid, has made its way to Kashmir. This follows a collaborative three-day training workshop organized by the ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR-NRCO), ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) from August 1-3, under the theme ‘Exotic Orchids for Paradise on Earth.’
The workshop aimed to revolutionize floriculture in Kashmir by promoting the cultivation of exotic orchids. It featured a special session addressed by the Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-K and technical sessions covering the floriculture potential in Jammu and Kashmir, production technology of Cymbidium and Paphiopedilum orchids, improvement and propagation techniques in orchids, and hands-on training on tissue culture and cultivation of Cymbidium orchids.
Enthusiastic participation came from officers of the Floriculture Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, scientists and technical staff of ICAR-CITH, as well as faculty and students from the Division of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, SKUAST-K.
To support this initiative, two units of 200 Cymbidium orchid plants each were established at ICAR-CITH and SKUAST-K, with plants brought from ICAR-NRCO, Sikkim. These units will facilitate the study of the performance of Cymbidium hybrids in the valley.
State government officials, ICAR-CITH, and SKUAST-K faculty are committed to ensuring the successful establishment of orchids in Kashmir. The initiative aims to extend the tourist season from May to March, coinciding with the full bloom of Cymbidium orchids, thus boosting the local economy.
This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in introducing exotic orchids to Kashmir, paving the way for a new era in the region’s floriculture sector.
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