Himachal Pradesh is located in North western part of India in the Western Himalayas, it has variety of agro-climatic conditions due to which a large number of excellent quality flower crops can be produced throughout the year in one or another part of the State. In Himachal Pradesh, the flower cultivation and ornamental floriculture has emerged an important enterprise for diversification and income generation to the farmers. The agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the State of Himachal Pradesh offer excellent opportunities for the development of floriculture both to serve the internal off-season market and also for exports, an avenue yet to be tapped. A large variety of floriculture products, viz., cut flowers, bulbs, seeds, live plants, etc. can be produced as economic cash crops. Although flowers from different agro climatic zones of the State can be made available all through the year for domestic market, export quality flower produce can be ensured only by cultivation under controlled environment conditions of greenhouses.

DISTRICT WISE AREA UNDER FLOWER CROPS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH AS ON 2000 - 2021

FLORICULTURE YEARLY WORK SCHEDULE

Plant Material Available in the Departmental Flower Nurseries & Model Floriculture Centers

• The Agro climatic conditions prevailing in the State of Himachal Pradesh offer excellent opportunities for the development of floriculture both to serve the internal off-season market and also exports.
• A large variety of floriculture products, viz., cut flowers, bulbs, seeds, live plants, etc. can be produced.
• The natural agro climatic conditions offer ideal production environment for flowers and the planting material i.e., expensive heating and cooling systems in the greenhouses are not required
• Power required for running the greenhouses is charged at domestic rates in the State.
• Flowers from different agro climatic zones of the State can be made available from open field cultivation all through the year for domestic market, however, export quality flower produce can be ensured only by cultivation under controlled environmental conditions of greenhouses.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE

INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT

• Floriculture Nurseries:

The Department of Horticulture has established six Floriculture Nurseries in various Districts, viz., Navbahar and Chhrabra in Shimla District, Mahog Bag and Parwanoo in Solan District, Bajaura in Kullu District and Dharamshala, Bhatoon and Palampur in Kangra District.

• Model Floriculture Centre:

Two “Model Floriculture Centres” has been established by the Department of Horticulture at Mahog Bag (Chail), District Solan and Palampur, District Kangra, which are acting as nucleus for the proliferation of commercial floriculture in all the 12 Districts of the State. All the modern facilities for commercial floriculture, like mist chambers, tissue culture, irrigation systems & cold storage facilities are being demonstrated to the farmers visiting these MFCs, apart from it various trainings/shows are also being organized from time to time in these centers.

Training in Floriculture

Organization of Study Tours

Advisory Service:

Free technical advice is made available to the entrepreneurs and practicing floriculturists in pre and post-harvest technologies of floriculture crops.

Literature for Floriculture:

Literature handouts containing technical information pertaining to cultivation of floriculture crops are supplied free of cost.

The Department provides assistance for the organization of flower shows to create awareness on the usage of floriculture produce – both indoors and outdoors.

The Department provides assistance to the flower growers for the formation of flower growers co-operative Societies.

The Department assists the flower grower co-operatives and NGOs to obtain assistance for the establishment of post-harvest management facilities available from organizations like National Horticulture Board, APEDA and NABARD.

The following organizations provide the necessary R&D support in the field of floriculture: -

1. 1. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan. This University has a separate Department of Floriculture & Landscaping as its headquarters at Nauni. The location specific research work is being carried out at the regional Research stations of the university located in various Agro climatic Zones of the State.
   2. Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology, Palampur, District Kangra
   3. ICAR Research Station at Katrain District Kullu H.P.
   4. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Phagli, Shimla, H.P.

• Creating more public awareness regarding the use of floriculture produce through media and other agencies as well as more exposure of floriculture products during consumer exhibitions.
• Retailing of flower produce through super markets in addition to Florist shops to encourage flower consumption especially in metropolitan cities.
• Organizing post-harvest infrastructure for marketing needs at the domestic terminal markets, particularly the Delhi market.
• Promotion of interaction between growers and scientific Institutions for effective lab to land technology transfer.