CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur signed two Memorandum of Understanding with M/s Flower Growers Social Welfare Trust, Kaladhungi, Kamola, Nainital, Uttarakhand,and M/s Friends Farmer Welfare Club, VPO Nanowal, Tehsil Khamano, District Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab to promote cool chain storage facility at farmers’ field which will facilitate storage of fresh-cut flowers and flower bulbs.
Indian floriculture industry has been facing the challenge of insufficient cold chain facilities. Through this facility, the farmers can sell good quality fresh flowers and store floricultural produce to reduce post-harvest losses and distress sales at flower markets.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, said that CSIR has started Floriculture Mission during 2021 with aim to promote the cultivation of high-value floricultural crops for socio-economic upliftment and employment generation of the farming community and rural masses .
Shri Gurvinder Singh Sohi and Mr. Balbir Singh Kamboj from above societies, said that the cold storage facility will support around 80 farmers, who are cultivating ten different floricultural crops, like gladiolus, rose, gerbera, carnation, lilium,
tuberose,chrysanthemum, limonium, gypsophilla, and calla lily. They expressed gratitude towards initiatives of CSIR-IHBT for this collaboration, which will help the farmers to improve their livelihood.
