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Eye-filling and money spinning
-- Photos: C.V. Subrahmanyam
Varaprasada Reddy displaying his proud possession.
The queen of flowers - orchid - is said to have survived on the earth for 120 million years. The survival of orchids, while most other plant and animal species had become extinct over the ages, is an indication of its adaptability. Today, over 30,000 different species of orchids are believed to be in existence around the globe.
The beautiful flowers in vibrant colours offer a visual treat. #Little wonder, they are increasingly being used in bouquets and in floral decorations in weddings of the rich and the glitterati.
"An orchid spray (a bunch of four or five flowers) fetches $16, making it the costliest flower in the international market.
There are 1.5 lakh types of hybrids, which are suitable for any type of climate.
"The Netherlands is the world centre for orchid trade and it receives the flowers from different parts of the globe for re-distribution," says the environmentalist and orchid lover, N.A. Varaprasada Reddy, who is growing the plants in his garden.
"There are 47 different species of orchids growing in the wild on the Eastern Ghats. Detection of a new species can fetch $2 lakhs. Commercial production has not been taken up so far either in Visakhapatnam or in AP. However, commercial culture has been taken up in a big way in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Women's cooperatives are involved in orchid cultivation in Kerala," he points out.
There are, however, a few residents like Ila Rao, a retired professor in the English Department of Andhra University, and the Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Girijan Cooperative Corporation, A. Vidyasagar, who are growing them in their backyard.
Unlike other flowers, orchids stay fresh for periods ranging from 30 days to six months depending on the variety.
In the domestic market, the rich are using them in weddings and in bouquets.
The City of Destiny imports its requirements from Bangalore.
It is high time local farmers went in for commercial production of orchids and reaped rich dividends.
B. MADHU GOPAL
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Pondicherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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