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| Kashmir becomes first place in Asia to produce Lilium bulbs | | |
Srinagar, Oct 17 The Agriculture Department in Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a major breakthrough in the propagation of Lilium bulbs imported from Holland in the Valley.
Talking to UNI, Agriculture Secretary K B Jandial said the pilot project, first of its kind not only in India but Asia as well, was started by the department in May this year.
The project has proved a success as evident from the quality and quantity of Lilium bulblets propagated in the model floriculture centre at Nunar in Ganderbal area of the Kashmir valley, he added.
Mr Jandial said about 5000 kg of Lilium bulblets were imported from the Holland-based VWS Floriculture Company which also provided consultancy and technical assistance to the state Agriculture Department in the propagation of these bulbs.
Besides bulblets of the size of 8 cm and below, the Agriculture Secretary said planting, harvesting and grading machines were also imported from the company and the total cost of the project came to Rs one crore.
He said the planting material was sown in the field spread over 8.5 hectares of land at Nunar in first week of May this year.
''From May to October, the consultants from Holland visited Kashmir every month to oversee the propagation process. Reports regarding the growth of the crop, weather and other conditions were sent to the company on daily basis. We also procured special fertiliser from Delhi,'' the Agriculture Secretary added.
The infrastructure for growing Lilium bulbs in Kashmir, was developed by the state Agriculture Department, he said, adding digging of production tube-well, fitting of pumping machinery on it, fixing sprinkler irrigation system and land leveling was all done by the department which also purchased tractors with accessories and 100 KV generator set.
Mr Jandial said five varieties of Lilium -- Dream Land, Royal Trinity, Brindisi, Menorca and Courier -- were propagated in the Nunar floriculture centre.
He said the climate in Kashmir was best suited for propagation of Lilium bulbs and flowers. Same weather conditions prevail in Holland, which is the largest producer of Lilium bulbs and flowers in the world, he added.
The Agriculture Secretary said India imports nearly six million Lilium bulbs from Holland every year. With the success of the pilot project, Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to meet this requirement, he added.
Mr Jandial said about 3.5 lakh flowering bulbs of 10 cm and above size and 200 kg of good quality bulblets were produced in the Nunar floriculture centre. About 0.2 acre could produce 60,000 bulbs.
Mr Jandial said many farmers from the state and outside as well have approached the Agriculture Department for purchase of bulbs.
Besides, several national and international companies have sought details regarding the propagation and marketing of Lilium bulbs and flowers, he added.
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