Many flower growers, who also export seeds to various countries, say floriculture has a lot of potential in terms of promoting crop diversification and bringing farmers out of the paddy-wheat cycle. But flower growers rued that they did not receive help, despite tall claims of various governments.
Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra said his government was the first to provide Rs 14,000 per acre subsidy to flower growers and also promised many more such schemes to promote floriculture in the state.
“Our family has been practicing floriculture since 1997. We prepare seeds of flowers on 16 acres. As there is no market for flowers in Punjab, we have been exporting seeds to other countries. Apart from offering much-needed financial aid to flower growers, the state government should also take effective steps to provide a market for flowers,” said Jasvir Singh of Lohadbadi village.
According to other flower growers, they are always under the fear of losing their hard-earned crop if they don’t get adequate help from the government. They said in 2021, rain and in 2022, rising temperature damaged their crop.
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