West Godavari Collector Ch. Nagarani, on Monday, January 20, said a subsidy of up to ₹32 lakh to orchid farmers for drip irrigation and other components, adding that the flowers were in demand in cities like Visakhapatnam, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
After inspecting the orchid farm of Ketikina Srinivas at Kapavaram village of Peravali mandal in West Godavari district, she said that a special study would be conducted on the farming methods of orchids, their yield and marketing opportunities in the Godavari region.
"Farmers shall be sent to observe farming of different orchid varieties. Necessary support will be extended to them," said Ms. Nagarani.
In 2016, Mr. Srinivas imported 30 orchid varieties from Thailand after obtaining permission from the Floriculture Research Institute (FRI), Pune. These imported plants were required to be quarantined for 45 days and get ready for harvesting in eight months.
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