Sonia Red and Sonia White, the market's hottest event flowers, no longer need a passport to Punjab. Scientific grit meets commercial grit as PAU rolls out cultivation technology for two varieties of high-value exotic Dendrobium orchids for the first time in North India, slashing transport costs and boosting profits for growers — from 100 plants to 2,000, and Rs 5 lakh in the balance.
With winter-proof technology and govt-backed subsidies, Punjab Agricultural Univeristy's research means Dendrobiums now bloom through both heat waves and cold snaps. For Punjab's entrepreneurs, every stem spells fresh value. After eight years of research, PAU's floriculture and landscaping department successfully adapted the tropical flower for year-round growth in Punjab's challenging climate using high-tech polyhouses, opening new agricultural and entrepreneurial opportunities for the state's farmers.
Parminder Singh, head of the floriculture and landscaping department, explained: "Dendrobiums are a high value exotic crop... Having its origins in tropical weather, it was not possible to grow these flowers in Punjab. This breakthrough was possible after years of research, and we have now standardized the technology for the fertigation and high-tech polyhouse cultivation in Punjab."
Dendrobium orchids are typically imported into North India, primarily from countries like Thailand, and are highly sought after for elite events and weddings.
Read more at Times of India
