ZIRO, NOV 4:
More than 3,000 bunches of locally grown Chrysanthemum flowers were dispatched from Ziro to New Delhi on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards promoting commercial floriculture and expanding market opportunities for farmers in Arunachal Pradesh.
Over 800 bunches had already been sold in the local market.
The consignment was ceremonially flagged off from the Mini Secretariat, Ziro, by Ziro-Hapoli MLA Hage Appa, in the presence of Horticulture Secretary Koj Riniya, Lower Subansiri Zilla Parishad Chairperson Hibu Dumi, Horticulture Director Tobom Bam, Deputy Commissioner Oli Perme, District Horticulture Officer Hibu Dante, officials and local flower growers.
The flowers were cultivated by farmers of Ziro under the technical guidance of the District Horticulture Office, with support from the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India.
Addressing the gathering, Horticulture Secretary Koj Riniya highlighted the department’s initiatives to provide market-oriented training in scientific Package of Practices (PoPs) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to improve production quality and meet market standards.
She said the state government was focusing on large-scale floriculture development, considering Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse agro-climatic conditions and market potential.
The department has also collaborated with the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, to provide technical training and build farmers’ capacity.
Riniya further informed that Ziro farmers were also cultivating Gypsophila flowers, which are expected to be harvested in the coming weeks. She identified Azadpur Mandi in New Delhi as an important market avenue for strengthening linkages and improving farmers’ income. She also noted that a special provision for floriculture development had been included in the State Government’s Budget Announcement for 2026–27.
Hage Appa congratulated the farmers and the Horticulture Department on the successful dispatch, appreciating their efforts to promote floriculture. He encouraged farmers to adopt scientific and market-oriented cultivation practices to enhance their income and strengthen the state’s horticultural economy.
