Floriculture Prospects in Arunachal Pradesh with Special Reference to Orchids
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J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2012 Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 18-32, 2012 http://www.innspub.net RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS Floriculture prospects in Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to orchids 1 2* 2 2 Dai Oyi , Nimasow Gibji , Bamin Sunya , Chozom Karma 1Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh – 791112 (INDIA) 2Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh – 791112 (INDIA) 3Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, P. O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Received: 11 February 2012 Revised: 21 February 2012 Accepted: 22February 2012 Key words: Floriculture, orchids, diversity, problems and prospects, Arunachal Pradesh. Abstract Floriculture is commercial production, marketing and retail sale of cut flowers and potted plants as well as home gardening and flower arrangement. Arunachal Pradesh has started to promote floriculture, especially orchids for export oriented cut-flower industries. The diverse agro-climatic condition provides an ideal opportunity for growth of agro-based industries. Floriculture is one of such industry having great potential in the state. In this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the problems and prospects of floriculture in Arunachal Pradesh with a focus on orchids. A comprehensive survey and interview was conducted for the existing orchid research and development centers to derive suitable conclusions. The study reveals about 550 species of orchids in the state, out of which about 100 species are ornamental belonging to genera Aerides, Ascocentrum, Calanthe, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Paphiopedilum Phaius, Renanthera, Rhynchostylis, Vanda, etc. So far five hybrid genus - Renades “Arunodaya” Arachnocentron “Tipi Jubilee star”, Esmeranda “Millennium Dawn”, Cymbidium Sessa “Green Beauty” and Ascocenda “Tipi Blue Boy” were successfully introduced in the state. *Corresponding Author: Nimasow Gibji [email protected] 18 | Oyi et al. J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2012 Introduction hectares in 1999 (National Horticulture Board, Floriculture is emerging as a fast growing sector in 2001). Flowers are used in occasions of joy and recent years and it is one of the most rapidly sorrow, worships, adornment of hair by women and expanding and dynamic global enterprise in today’s home decorations in India and other parts of the world. More than 140 countries are involved in the world. The highly prized aesthetic appeal of flowers production of floriculture crops with increasing makes gardening rewarding pursuit all over the trends. The transformation of the floriculture globe. The Government of India has set a target of industry from being merely domestic to global has achieving more than Rs. 100 crores for export in opened up opportunities for multinational floricultural products by the end of century. Major collaborations in developing countries of the third states involved in floricultural activities spread over world. Hence, there is a significant increase in 73, 579 hectares of area in the states of Tamil Nadu, competition for floriculture products in the Karnataka, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, international markets. Orchids are the second largest Maharasthra, etc. About 500 hectares of land have group of flowering plants comprising about 788 climatically controlled green houses for growing genera and 18,500 species (Mabberley, 1997). In quality flowers for export purposes. The total India, they are represented by 186 genera and 1,141 investment in this sector is approximately Rs.1000 species (Kumar and Manilal, 1994). Orchids have million. Such export-oriented units with green house three main habits; terrestrial - soil dwelling, production have been set up in clusters around Pune epiphytic – on other plants and lithophytic – on rock (Maharashtra), Bangalore, Delhi, Kerela, Hyderabad, surfaces (Dearnaley, 2007). Orchids are highly etc. Ornamental foliage plants of decorative values susceptible to slight changes in the environmental are also being exported in sizeable quantity. Dried conditions. The seeds are very small and light that flowers trade is comparatively new venture in India are easily dispersed by wind (Kumar et. al., 2007). and is gradually gaining popularity. Presently, most Lindley (1857, 1858) started the studies on orchids in of the dried products are exported to Germany, USA, India. Then, Hooker (1888-1890) prepared the Flora Netherlands, UK, Italy and Japan that constitutes of British India, which included information on the nearly 60% of the country’s export of floriculture Orchidaceae of India, and later published a book products. Floral extracts are likely to emerge as an exclusively on Indian orchids (Hooker, 1895). The important item in future. This sector has orchids of Sikkim Himalayas (King and Pantling, considerable potential both for domestic as well as 1898) and orchids of NW Himalayas (Duthie, 1906) export-oriented market. Some commercial units for added more information on the orchids of India. The production of value added products, collages and recent decades witnessed number of works on flower pictures, flower balls, cards and cover various states and regions of India. Some of the pomanders, festive decoration, sweet smelling, significant works are on the orchids of Meghalaya potpourri, etc. have been established in eastern and (Kataki, 1986), NW Himalayas (Deva and Naithani, southern parts of India. 1986), Nilgiris (Joseph, 1987), Kerala (Kumar and Sashidharan, 1987), Manipur (Ghatak and Devi, North-east India possesses rich plant diversity. 1986), Mizoram (Singh et. al., 1990), Sikkim (Bruhl, Majority of Indian orchids are mainly confined to 1993), Arunachal Pradesh (Chowdhery, 1998; Hegde, this part of the country. The region has great 2001; Rao, 2006), Nagaland (Hynniewta, et. al., potential to emerge as the major supplier of 2000) and Orissa (Mishra, 2003). floricultural products especially orchids and cut- flowers. This potential, however, largely remains The area under floriculture at all India level had untapped for want of private initiative and it is increased from 53,000 hectares in 1993-94 to 88,609 developing only in few pockets of Sikkim, Meghalaya, 19 J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2012 Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh (Planning A determined effort is required to promote Commission, GOI, 2001). Currently, only 0.1% of the floriculture industry in Arunachal Pradesh in a more total area is used for flower production in the entire commercialized way and to expand its trade domain region. Arunachal Pradesh has diverse agro-climatic within the country as well as outside the country. conditions for growing variety of floriculture crops, Continuous support is needed from the central and especially orchids round the year. About 23.52% of state governments, financial institutions, non- the flowering plants of India are found in Arunachal governmental organizations, universities, other Pradesh. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has institutes, individuals and the development of cost- initiated promotional programmes to develop efficient indigenous technologies suitable to boost up orchids because they are the sustainable alternative the floriculture industry and economic development crops to augment the local economy based on sound of the state. The basic objectives of the research are: research and development. Coordinated efforts have 1. To analyze the role of geographical environment been made under the departments of Forestry, on the existing variety of floriculture. Horticulture and Industrial sector to develop orchid 2. To examine the role of floriculture on as a cottage industry. Proper policy and investments enhancement of household income of the are required for quality production and marketing of farmers and variety of problems faced by the floriculture products with good returns in the state, entrepreneurs engaged in the floriculture nation and abroad. Arunachal Pradesh is an orchid industry. paradise. Out of about 1300 species of orchids 3. To study and analyze the prospects of orchid reported so far from India, about 870 species are cultivation as floriculture crop in Arunachal from N. E. India and about 560 species are from Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh. The concentration of orchids may be attributed to the congenial climatic Materials and methods conditions like high rainfall, high relative humidity, The study is mainly based on the primary source of maximum forest cover with dense vegetation at information collected from the various centers like different altitudinal zones ranging from tropical to State Forest Research Institute (SFRI), Itanagar, alpine regions (Rao, 2006). The diverse climatic Orchid Research and Development Centre (ORDC), conditions ranging from humid tropical, sub-tropical, Tipi (Bhalukpong), Field Research Station, Chessa temperate and alpine zones influenced by high (Banderdewa), Nana-Koo Agro Pvt. Ltd, Ziro, rainfall, varying temperature, humidity and wide Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), Jorhat Branch, ranging soil and phytogeographical situations have Naharlagun. The various information on floriculture made this state as one of the “Biodiversity Hot-spots” and orchids have been collected through personal in the world. Such a diverse agro-climatic situation interview with the Director in charge, Scientists, provides an ideal opportunity for the growth of agro- Foresters, Forest guards, Malis, etc. Suitable based