Odisha govt to encourage flower growers to set up greenhouses

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Brahmapur, Aug 11:

To give a boost to flower production in the state, the Odisha government is encouraging flower growers in Ganjam district to set up greenhouses, said S K Chadha, director Horticulture here.

Floriculture in Ganjam district suffered a setback after cyclone Phailin last year, he added.

“We are motivating them to go for greenhouse cultivation to increase production,” said Chadha after holding a discussion with flower growers of the district here.

Flower growers have been advised to cultivate new varieties and export-quality flowers and setting up of greenhouses would increase exotic flower production in the district, the director said.

On the contrary, general secretary of Ganjam District Flower Growers’ Association, Sridhar Verma, however, claimed that farmers are not willing to invest in floriculture because banks are not coming to finance flower cultivation. “Since the growers are also not getting remunerative prices for their produce due to lack of market linkage,” he rued.

The flower growing area has shrunk from 700 acre to 300 acres in Ganjam district following cyclone Phailin in October last year, official sources said.

Since Ganjam is vulnerable to natural calamities and there are high chances of crop loss, insurance coverage is a dire necessity, Verma said.

“In northeast and some southern states, floriculture is covered under insurance,” he added.

Several flower growers expressed dissatisfaction over non-functioning of the flower market and the training centre at Ambapur, on the outskirts of the town.