Date:19/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/19/stories/2004121901382000.htm

National

Flowery cargo from West Bengal

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, DEC. 18. Florists in Boston have given the go-ahead for supplies of tube-roses, gladioli, garberas and orchids from West Bengal. Talks are on between the West Bengal State Food Processing, the Horticulture Development Corporation Ltd. and agencies in Japan and Singapore for exporting flowers to these countries.

After nearly two months during which the flower cultivation in the State was severely affected due to storms and rains, the weekly supply of tube-roses to the world's biggest flower auction centres in Holland — at Alsmer and Naljdwik near Amsterdam — is all set to resume. Four containers carrying 7,200 tube-roses will be put aboard a Lufthansa aircraft that will leave for Amsterdam tonight, N. Hazra, the managing director of the corporation, told The Hindu here today. Orders for supplies to Boston reached the corporation after importers reportedly appreciated the flowers sent to them a few weeks ago. Floriculture in the State had also been given a boost with local private entrepreneurs exporting flowers to London and New York.

The State Government, with funds from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, is also working on a project to expand orchid cultivation on the hills of Darjeeling district. There is a large market for orchids abroad and "steps are being taken to improve marketing facilities as well as for integrated cultivation of the large varieties of orchids grown, so long, in scattered areas across the hills," Mr. Hazra said.

The cultivation of medicinal plants which also have high export potential, is to begin shortly on eight hectares near Haringhata in Nadia district. It is to be a joint venture.