Early Times Report
PULWAMA, Apr 3: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, is making significant strides in indigenizing tulip bulb production at its Field Station in Bonera, Pulwama. This initiative, launched under the CSIR Floriculture Mission, aims to reduce India's reliance on tulip imports while boosting the economic prospects of local farmers. The CSIR Floriculture Mission, implemented by IIIM under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, focuses on key areas such as quality planting material generation, post-harvest processing, value addition, and market linkages. In line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the initiative supports self-reliance in floriculture through research-driven advancements.
IIIM Bonera began tulip cultivation in 2022 with just 10,000 bulbs. Within two years, the project has expanded to over 12 kanals, successfully producing more than one lakh tulip bulbs this season. The Tulip Garden-cum-Experimental Field at Bonera, now home to eight tulip varieties, was recently opened to the public, attracting thousands of visitors.
During a media interaction at the Bonera Tulip Garden, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, emphasized the significance of this initiative. He highlighted that developing indigenous tulip bulbs and agro-technological protocols will not only reduce dependency on imports but also create new economic opportunities for farmers.
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