Can orchids help Mangalore's economy flower?

By K.C.Vikas Kumar

MANGALORE, OCT. 14. Mangalore has progressed in banking, education, healthcare, and cottage industries. But the City has not witnessed rampant industrial development due to its ecological sensitivity. In this scenario, several ideas have been mooted to improve the economy without damage to environment.

Since it is situated in the sub-tropical region, orchids thrive in Mangalore. Many have made attempts to take up orchid cultivation as a hobby with the aim of developing it into a lucrative business. Only a few have succeeded and orchid culture has not taken deep roots in the city.

At a symposium organised by the orchid growers of Mangalore taluk, Dr. P.K.Rajeevan, Professor and head of the department of pomology and floricuture, Kerala Agricultural University College of Horticulture, said that success in orchid farming depended on the quality of the plantlings, technology and the development of the concept of decentralised production and centralised marketing.

He told The Hindu that growers often failed due to the improper application of technology, or use of poor quality plantlings. The market had matured and good quality plants were available for cultivation.

Orchids had a variety unmatched by other ornamental plants. There were over 1,300 indigenous species. Only dendrobium variety had a high demand. The flower had a longer vase life, and this had made it popular in some West Asian countries and even in the western markets. Since the plant required high humidity and temperature, its cultivation was restricted to a few areas.

In the country, dendrobium was grown in North Kerala and South Karnataka. Other orchid species were grown in the cooler climes of Arunachal Pradesh. Orchid cultivation in Kerala had shown that it was an occupation with a lot of potential.

Dr. Rajeevan said that hitech input and management were required for orchid cultivation. Planting materials, usually imported from Thailand and South Asian countries, were released into the market after a period of quarantine. The plants so imported were eight- month-old with a height of nearly 10 cms. They were later placed in perforated pots containing a mixture of charcoal and brick pieces.

According to Dr. Rajeevan, growers should keep in mind that these plants would grow only if a forest environment was simulated. Their roots should not be fully covered. The roots had to be exposed to enable the plants to assimilate minerals and nourishment from the air. The growers should cover the growing areas with "Agronet" spread over a GI pipe framework, which would allow only 50 per cent of the sunlight to pass through. Nutrients should be sprayed on the plants once a week. Fungicides should be applied every 15 days in summer.

Usually, plants started flowering within six to eight months. By the third year, nearly nine spikes would develop depending on the care taken during cultivation. Though the spikes may wither within two to three years, the plant would soon develop new shoots. If good care was taken, orchids promised returns many floriculturists could not even dream of.

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