The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), in collaboration with Bio Resource Development Centre (BRDC), organized a program, ‘Promoting women bio-entrepreneurship in orchid floriculture’ at Umsning Block, Ri-Bhoi district, on October 3.
Speaking at the program, Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh stated that there is tremendous demand for Dendrobium cut flower spikes of commercial standards both in the national and export markets, Lyngdoh said locally, there is high demand for the flower, especially during the peak wedding season, All Soul’s Day and other festivities. In order to meet the demand, florists have to procure the orchid from Thailand or South India.
She, however, said that the potential of raising commercial standard Dendrobium cut flowers in Meghalaya has not been tapped, and this challenge has been taken up jointly by BRDC, Upper Shillong, and IBSD, Meghalaya.
“The present project aims to capitalize on Dendrobium cut flower commercial production in Meghalaya so that bio-resource entrepreneurship is developed and a booming Dendrobium cut flower cottage scale industry is established across the state for gainful employment of women and youth of the region,” she said while adding that this project is conceived on hub and spoke model and aims at end-to-end demonstrations of commercial cut flower Dendrobium production technology right at the village level on cluster-based approach for farmers of Ri Bhoi district.
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