Says floriculture & tourism must go hand in hand for economic growth
Highlights potential of J&K’s flowers in global markets
Jammu, Dec 12:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a meeting of the Department of Floriculture, Parks, and Gardens at the Civil Secretariat to review the department’s functioning and discuss strategies to enhance the sector’s potential.
In his address, the Chief Minister emphasised the tremendous opportunities within the floricul-ture sector, particularly with the upcoming rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country. He stressed the need to leverage this connectivity to market Kashmir’s flowers both across India and globally.
“We must engage progressive growers and other stakeholders to fully realize the sector’s poten-tial,” the Chief Minister said, urging the department to maximize the benefits of this infrastruc-ture development.
Omar Abdullah also directed the department to plant tulips along the Airport Road to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the region and to launch advertisement campaigns to attract more tourists to Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad presented a detailed overview of the de-partment’s functioning, highlighting its achievements and ongoing projects. Key milestones and initiatives discussed included, Tulip Show 2024 in which a record 1.7 million tulips of 72 varie-ties were planted, attracting 4.46 lakh tourists in March 2024.
The meeting also reviewed significant developments in the floriculture sector, including the crea-tion of ornamental cherry tree gardens (Sakura) and a Tulip Garden in Sanasar, as well as peony and rose gardens at Pahalgam. Progress was also noted in efforts to have six historic Mughal Gardens listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Other projects discussed included the upgradation of Bagh-e-Bahu Garden and the establishment of the Bour Camp Garden in Jammu, chrysanthemum plantations in Udhampur, and the rejuvena-tion of Badamwari and Dara Shikoh Gardens. Additionally, the development of theme gardens in Gulmarg, floriculture nurseries, and a model flower center in Jammu were deliberated upon.
The Chief Minister also reviewed plans for an amphitheater and beautification projects at Bagh-e-Bahu, emphasizing the importance of modernizing and mechanizing garden maintenance to en-hance operational efficiency while optimizing resources and generating revenue.
He called on the department to focus on projects that not only preserve the region’s rich natural heritage but also enhance Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism potential.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks & Gardens Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, Directors of Floriculture from Kashmir and Jammu, and other concerned officials.
