Nainital’s flowers hit metropolitan markets

Nainital: The floriculture sector is spreading by leaps and bounds in the Nainital district, with an increase in flower cultivation and the development of nurseries. This expansion has been providing employment opportunities and strengthening the local economy as well. Moreover, the demand for flowers from this region has been soaring across the country. Flower cultivation took place on 42.7 hectares of land in 2020-21, which has reached 53.93 hectares by 2024-25, engaging over 1,000 people in the district.

Several areas like Bhimtal, Padampuri, Kotabagh, Bhowali, Haldwani, Nayagaon, Pahadpani, Bajoon, Bhatelia, Ramgarh, and Ramnagar are suitable for flower cultivation, attracting local and outside entrepreneurs to take land on lease for growing flowers.

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Nainital’s flowers are being supplied to numerous cities such as Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jammu, Varanasi, Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Dehradun, Tehri, Kotdwar, Kanpur, Lucknow, Gwalior, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chhattisgarh, and Jaipur. The entire district has been growing marigolds, chrysanthemums, carnations, gerberas, lilies, roses, and gladiolus along with seasonal flowers in abundance.

The support of the government has boosted the floriculture business in the district. Farmers have been getting subsidies from the horticulture department for polyhouses, flower seeds, and bulbs through the Horticulture Mission for Northeast and Himalayan States (HMNEH). Besides this, the Chief Minister’s Integrated Horticulture Development Scheme offers a 50% subsidy on flower bulbs and plants.

At present, Nainital’s Terai-Bhabar and hilly areas are yielding over 223.83 metric tons of flowers annually, including a 373.24 lakh boost in the production of flowers such as lilies, carnations, gladiolus, and roses. Several floriculturists have been growing potted plants, and their demand is high in metropolitan cities.