A high level Dutch delegation is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to explore ways for promoting bilateral co-operation in the field of floriculture with India.
Srinagar, Oct 18 : A high level Dutch delegation is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to explore ways for promoting bilateral co-operation in the field of floriculture with India.
The delegation, which arrived on Wednesday to the picturesque Valley, is led by Hans Wolf, Agriculture Consellor from the Dutch Consulate in India. Wolf held hectic parleys with the state floriculture department officials to explore means to make Kashmiri flowers compete at the international level.
As a part of the efforts, the Netherlands will provide technical assistance and knowledge to the local cultivators. They will also facilitate interaction between the growers of the valley and experts in the Netherlands.
"The weak point in the Indian system so far is the lack of on the spot training for farmers. So, we will work with the government and plan to bring development in every field, so that Jammu and Kashmir can compete in the international market in the field of floriculture and horticulture,'' said Wolf.
The state officials are upbeat about the Dutch delegation's visit, and predicted rosy days ahead for the local cultivators with exposure to state-of-the-art technology.
"They (Dutch government) will provide us training. A few companies will also come here to train the local people, so that our standards improve and we are able to compete internationally", said G.N. Qasba, Joint director floriculture.
Tanveer Jeha, State agriculture secretary, also expressed similar views and felt that the climate of the state is conducive for the promotion of floriculture in the state.
"Our climate is conducive (for floriculture) especially for bulb cultivation (Lilium), seed multiplication etc. Potential for floriculture is very high here", said Jeha.
The state government has taken several steps to promote floriculture in a big way. The annual rate of growth in the floriculture industry is about 15 percent.
The floricultural products include cut flowers, which contribute about 60 per cent of the global trade, flowering and green potted plants and flowerbed plants.
The floriculture industry in the world registered a dramatic increase in growth during the 1970's and 1980's. India's share in this global floriculture market is just 0.75 per cent.
India's annual flower production stands at over 1,000 tonnes, with Bangalore and Pune accounting for the maximum share in exports.
Roses make for most of the country's exports. India is a small player in the 40-billion-dollar global cut flower industry, dominated by Holland, France, Italy, South Africa and Thailand.
ANI