Tamil Nadu - Nagercoil   

“Set up flower research centre”

Nagercoil: Farmers here have urged the Government to set up a flower research centre at Thovalai.

Speaking to The Hindu, the district president of the Tamil Nadu Farmer’s Association, V. Pandarampillai, said that flowers were classified in to two major divisions based on their mode of utilisation. One was commercial flowers like jasmine, tuberose, rose, chrysanthemum, marigold, kanagambaram, etc. Another was cut flowers like anthuriams, orchids, gerbera, gladiola, etc.

The total area under flower cultivation was 201 hectares. Thovalai in Kanyakumari district was noted for its traditional flower cultivation. Though the agro-climatic conditions prevailing in the hill range and plains of the district were suitable to cultivate cut flowers, commercial cultivation of these crops were not under taken in this district due to the lack of support from the Government.

Conventional flowers like jasmine, kanagambaram and others were cultivated in various parts of Thovalai. Besides local demand, these flowers have a high demand in Kerala also.

Moreover these flowers were despatched to Mumbai and exported to Gulf countries. However the conventional flower market was not a regulated one and private parties were doing business by their own contacts with terms and conditions.

Hence, farmers in Thovalai have appealed to the Government to extend financial assistance to increase the area of flower cultivation and set up a cold storage in order to preserve flowers in high production season. Moreover by procuring flowers, the Government could help poor farmers get lucrative price, said a cross section of farmers in Thovalai, said Mr. Pandarampillai.

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