Srinagar: Floriculture in Jammu and Kashmir has reached a critical stage, with flower growers calling for focused government intervention to address long-pending structural and policy issues affecting the sector.
Growers from different parts of the Union Territory assembled in Jammu on Monday to highlight concerns over the current status of commercial floriculture. Addressing the gathering, Tejinder Singh Wazir, Member of the J&K Kissan Advisory Board, said floriculture is a billion-dollar global industry driven by nursery production, cut flowers and loose flowers used for devotional purposes.
Wazir said that despite Jammu and Kashmir’s floriculture industry being valued at nearly ₹500 crore, it continues to remain under-prioritised in planning and implementation by the UT administration. Referring to government budget figures, he described the sector as disorganised and pointed out that even during the ongoing budget session, flowers were imported from outside the UT despite the “Vocal for Local” slogan.
He said Jammu and Kashmir remains dependent on imports of tulips and trillions of flower bulbs every year, even though ICAR and CSIR reports have identified Kashmir as a key destination for flower bulb production in India. According to him, the region has failed to tap this potential, which could generate large-scale employment. He added that floriculture continues to be viewed by political leadership largely as an aesthetic activity rather than a sustainable livelihood option.
Calling the situation a serious concern, Wazir urged UT-level initiatives, including a blanket ban on the import of flower bulbs for the public sector. He also suggested the development of theme-based gardens such as guldaudi, lupins and bougainvillea gardens with direct involvement of local flower growers.
While major agriculture-related schemes such as MIDH, HADP and JKCIP are being implemented in the UT, Wazir said these are handled by different departments under the Agriculture Production Department, leading to confusion among growers. He noted that unlike other states where a single horticulture department implements such schemes, the lack of coordination in J&K has resulted in overlap, duplication and disappointment among farmers.
He said floriculture components under these programmes remain weak and poorly structured, with inadequate convergence between line departments and research institutions. This, he said, has led to gaps in quality planting material, protected cultivation, post-harvest management and market linkages. He stressed that scheme components must be designed strictly according to growers’ needs and prescribed norms.
Emphasising sustainability, Wazir called for interest subvention, revival of sick floriculture units and timely distribution of quality planting material, particularly for loose flowers. He said even a modest budgetary allocation of ₹50 crore could significantly improve prospects for floriculture farmers. He also sought an inquiry into the absence of dedicated floriculture marketing infrastructure in the UT and the utilisation of funds meant for post-harvest management.
While welcoming top-up subsidies for micro and sprinkler irrigation amounting to ₹116.86 crore, growers demanded a dedicated floriculture mission with top-up subsidies and insurance coverage. Wazir also referred to the CSIR Floriculture Mission led by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, stating that mission-mode scientific interventions have shown tangible results.
He urged authorities to organise Pushp Kranti Melas in Jammu and Posh Inqilab Melas in Kashmir to bring together growers, scientists, nurserymen and buyers for a coordinated revival strategy.
The growers appealed to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmed Dar to initiate coordinated efforts and convene a special review meeting to strengthen floriculture components under existing schemes and ensure benefits reach farmers across the Union Territory.
