Special Floriculture Mission for farmers

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is going to launch Chief Minister’s Special Floriculture Mission for the small and marginal farmers of Assam. In this connection, the State Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Nilamani Sen Deka have taken special initiative to formulate the Mission. Accordingly, the Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing , Assam ( DHFP, Assam) has  proposed to increase area under flower cultivation upto 5000 ha during 2013-14 through Mission Mode approach under the banner of Chief Minister’s Special Floriculture Mission, bringing an additional area of 3200 ha under cultivation.

It may mention that, floriculture is a promising sector of horticulture in Assam. The Small & Marginal farmer of a State like Assam can generate higher income through commercial cultivation of flower. It is to be mentioned that the State like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal & Maharashtra covers an area of 32,000 ha, 23,000 ha & 17,500 ha respectively. In comparison to these advance States, Assam having an area of 1800 ha only which is seems to be negligible in spite of vast scope of commercial cultivation of different flowers like Orchid, Anthurium, Gerbera, Marigold, Tube rose etc.
It is well known fact that 82 % of farmers of Assam belong to the category of Small & Marginal farmer (SF/MF) having 0.5-1.0 ha land. The existing income of these SF/ MF from field crops like paddy, Jute, Mustard from an area of one hector is to the tune of Rs 70,000 to 85,000 per annum with which it is very tough to survive economically by these categories of farmers.  In comparison to field crops it has been observed that the income of SF/MF can be enhanced to Rs 2.4 lakh to Rs 4.2 lakh per ha per annum through flower cultivation.

A  Detail Project Report has been already prepared in consultation with scientist of Horticulture Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Kahikuchi, Guwahati, by the DHFP, Assam.

Moreover, for implementation of the Chief Minister’s Special Floriculture Mission a two tier Committee, one as Project Approval & Monitoring Committee (PAMC) and another as Project Implementation Team (PIT) are constituted.

Further the scheme is proposed to implement jointly with Horticulture Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Kahikuchi and Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat for transfer of technology of scientific cultivation of flower among the educated horticulture entrepreneurs and small and marginal farmers of the State. 

See more at: http://www.assamtimes.org/node/8579