Tripura banks on floriculture to enhance farmers’ income

The Tripura government has taken some specialised steps to increase the production of flowers. They are reacting to the significant increase in flower demand that has been noticed since 2018, 19, the agriculture and farmers welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath said.

Farmers have been receiving reasonable prices for flowers in local markets for the last seven years. This has resulted in more people taking up floriculture.

Nath, while talking about Indias progress in the field of floriculture, stated that India is the second largest flower grower in the world. However, in rice production, it has surpassed China to become the first.

According to him, flower cultivation is a profitable business, and even if it cannot be practically deployed everywhere, it is capable of generating a good income.

People of Bishalgarh, which is a place that had been dependent mainly on raising vegetables for a long time, are now shifting to flower farming as it is more profitable.

The states efforts are focused on making people self, reliant and creating plenty of employment opportunities.

Besides being a source of income, flowers can be turned into a variety of products like Holi colours, medicines, and perfumes, as they have a high demand in the market.

The minister said Tripura’s natural advantages for floriculture, including fertile soil, sufficient rainfall and a subtropical climate, make the state highly promising for growing diverse varieties of flowers. Traditional blooms such as marigold, gladiolus and rose dominate conventional floriculture markets in Tripura.

Further advancements have enabled the state to join the ranks of high-tech floriculture regions. Flowers like anthurium, orchid and gerbera are now being cultivated on conserved farmland using advanced methods.

Area under cultivation for local flowers like marigold, gladiolus and rose has increased by 60% since 2018, 19. Overall, traditional flower farming has seen a remarkable 332% growth over seven years, while high-tech floriculture has increased by 124%.

Designed as an attraction for flower enthusiasts, the facility will provide high-quality and cost-effective saplings to meet demand while also offering training opportunities for aspiring floriculturists. In the years ahead, the centre is expected to advance Tripura’s position in flower production across India.