Srinagar, May 30: Showing their keen interest in the flowers of Kashmir, foreign delegates at the 3-day Flori India Fair said floriculture can become one of Valley’s biggest foreign exchange earning industries.
 Pegging its annual commercial potential at USD 100 million, the participant delegates at the fair, which concluded on Saturday, said given their quality, the flowers grown in Kashmir can comfortably compete on the international market.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir some participants from Russia namely Alexander Mudragey, Director General, Wisdom Flowers; Elena Lanskhih of Grand group and Boldinova Tatiana said that the annual trade volume of floriculture business in Russia was over US 3 billion dollars.
 The visiting delegates said Russia imported 90 per cent of fresh cut flowers and foliages while only 10 per cent of the demand was being met by local production.
  “Countries like Netherlands, Columbia, Ethiopia, China and Vietnam are the biggest exporters. But during past few days here we have seen flowers in Kashmir are of better quality than that of other countries,” said Alexendra.
  “We want to import flowers from Kashmir and these will have a very good market in Russia,” he said.
 The delegation during its stay here met many flower growers and urged them to export their produce to Russia.
 “The cost of production of flowers in Kashmir is much lower than what it is elsewhere. Also, it is the climatic conditions of Kashmir which make the flowers like roses, tulips, liliums special,” he remarked.
 They put the potential of the commercial floriculture business in Valley at US 100 million dollars which can also generate employment for hundreds of youth in the Valley otherwise beset with huge unemployment.
 The fair also had participants from other countries including Saudi Arabia, UK, and Philippines, as also from several Indian states. Ambassador, Republic of Vietnam, HE Quang Diem also participated in the fair.
 The fair was organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in collaboration with the state government.
 Khurshid A Qasba, Deputy Director, Agriculture, who was coordinator of the fair, said the Russian delegation had shown keen interest in Kashmiri flowers and expressed desire to place orders for 4 lakh cuttings per month.
 “Each Rose cutting costs us one rupee and we can sell them at Rs 2 to 3 each which will fetch the growers’ handsome money,” he said.
 The ASSOCHAM has suggested the state government to encourage investments from other parts of India into floriculture to help local industry grow.
It said a Floriculture Export Promotion Force should be set up tap the international market. “Various strategic and marketing offices may be opened in Indian metros and abroad to promote exports from J&K.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 31 May 2010 00:00:00 IST