Government exploring employment options through floriculture in Kodai

Enthralled over the success of a new rose garden established in Kodaikanal this year, the State Agriculture Department has instructed its Horticulture department officials to explore the options of employment in connection with floriculture and spruce in the flower gardens and parks in the hill stations of Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud and the western districts, where horticulture is a major business.

Tamil Nadu is heading towards a slow and steady increase in the flower market of the country. During 2018-19, it is planned to cover an area of 38,316 hectares from the previous stretch of around 35,000 hectares under flower farming. Jasmine, Chrysanthemum, tube rose, rose, marigold are the top five flowers grown in Tamil Nadu.

Farmers are supported with 1.18 lakh bee keeping equipment to promote pollination in horticultural crops and the results are awaited. In case of sunflower production, Tamil Nadu accounts for the fourth place and the state is the leading producer of loose flowers, contributing 19 per cent to the national production, the official said.

According to state horticulture department sources, in 2017 under the National Horticulture Mission scheme, two centres of excellence were established by adopting the Israeli techniques. Centre of Excellence for cut flowers at Thally, Krishnagiri and Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Dindigul were started. Now, the centres have started yielding positive results enhancing the export of jasmine and rose.

“More potential should be tapped in Krishnagiri, Salem, Madurai and Dindigul where the soil and moist conditions are conducive for flower farming. Glory lilly exports are catching up in Vedaranynam of Nagapattinam district, but due to Cyclone Gaja, farmers depending on flower crops were badly hit,” said M Manikumar a farmer based in Nagapattinam.