CSIR IIIM organizes at two day workshop under CSIR Floriculture Mission

DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
Srinagar, Nov 23
Under CSIR Floriculture Mission, CSIR IIIM Jammu organised a two day workshop on “Production and Scientific Crop Management of Commercial Cut Flowers” at CSIR (Br.) Srinagar under the patronage of Dr Zabeer Ahmad, Director CSIR IIIM and Er. Abdul Rahim, Head CSIR IIIM Branch Srinagar. 70 participants including farmers, floritech entrepreneurs, florist traders and Horticulture graduates from SKUAST Kashmir participated in the programme. Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist CSIR Floriculture Mission, Dr Nasheeman Ashraf, Principal Scientist, CSIR IIIM, Dr Imtiyaz T. Nazki, Professor and Head, Division of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, SKUAST-K, Dr Nasir H. Masoodi Scientist, Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, SKUAST-K, Sh. Tejinder Singh Wazir and Ms. Rubeena Tabassum, Members, Kisan Advisory Board, J&K were present in the workshop. At the outset of the programme, Dr Khursheed Ahmad Bhat, Principal Scientist, CSIR-IIIM while welcoming the participants informed about the role and contribution of CSIR-IIIM in farmer oriented programmes and initiatives in the UT.
Dr Shahid Rasool in his address gave an overview of the mission and its aim in promotion of the floriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that for inclusive growth, development in the floriculture sector and farmer empowerment, more than 100 hectares across J&K has been brought under cultivation of various cut and loose flower crops under the mission so far. He further added that the CSIR IIIM mission team has been actively developing and disemminating technologies for the expansion of the floriculture sector along scientific lines through implementation of various verticals of the Mission. It has resulted in improved financial situation of farmers and given the floriculture industry in the UT a much-needed boost. Dr Imtiyaz Nazki in his lead lecture discussed about the scope and opportunities in commercial floriculture in Jammu and Kashmir.
He informed about various upcoming schemes and initiatives aiming at the promotion and expansion of floriculture sector for its exponential growth in Jammu and Kashmir. In his detailed presentation, he explained that commercial floriculture that includes diverse aspects like nursery and seed production, cut flowers, dry flowers, landscaping, turfing and value addition provides a platform for startup ecosystem among youth and explained in detail step by step guide to achieve the enterpreneurial skillset in floriculture. Sh Tejinder Singh while speaking at the event, informed that activities under CSIR Floriculture Mission are visible in every district of the UT. He appreciated the efforts of CSIR Floriculture Mission team in empowering the farmers, growers and promoting the floriculture sector in the UT from past two years and said that the initiatives under the Mission resulted in achieving Rs 5.0 – 6.0 crore economic returns of farmers in loose flower trade in Jammu division this season. Technical presentations were also delivered by Dr Markanday Singh, Head, Division of Floriculture, IARI, Dr Nasir Masoodi, Sh. Sanket Pandit, KF Biotech and Sh. Rohan Gosavi Natural Blooms, Pune on scientific production of various commercially important crops like Gerbera, Lilium, Tulip and Gladiolus. An exposure visit of the participants to Experimental Field of Division of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture was also conducted for on-farm training and demonstration for crop production under protected conditions.