Flora model farms to promote export oriented flowers industry.

ISLAMABAD, 27 April, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Flora model farms are being established in various cities of the country with the support of Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Board (PHDEB) on around 1000 acres land to promote export oriented flowers industry aimed at earning millions of dollars per annum by increasing export to UAE, Saudi Arabia and European Union beside others. Talking about projects being launched to promote floriculture, Federal Commerce Minister, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Board (PHDEB) had already been established to achieve targets regarding promotion of flower industry by launching pilot projects in various cities of the country. The area under floriculture cultivation is estimated to be around 1,000 acres as per earmarked by the Pakistan Horticulture Development Export board, the Minister said. Pakistan has export potential in the global markets like UAE, Saudi Arabia and Russian Federation and European Union. In Pakistan majority of flowers are produced in winter while Europe yields low production in the same season due to snow. While most of religious and traditional occasions are held in this period. This is an excellent opportunity for Pakistan to promote floriculture sector to fulfil the demand of European markets. Giving details about it, he said that the PHDEB under the umbrella of Ministry of Commerce had initiated a number of steps to develop floriculture sector in the country. According to steps taken by the PHDEB to develop floriculture, the Board has submitted a project establishment of floriculture common facility farm to the planning commission for funding as model farm of 32 hectors includes green houses and pack houses, that project will be export oriented as role model for floriculture. The PHDEB has already introduced the pilot project of gladiolus cultivation to promote floriculture sector as the Board is working on a project Establishment of flora model farm at Matli (Hyderabad), Sindh with the approval from the Export Development Fund. The Board also arranged exposure visits for the floriculture growers of Balochistan to neighbouring country India. Regarding details of the flower industry, the minister said Pakistan has potential to develop flower industry as the best commercial cut-flowers are roses, gladiolus tuberoses, marigold, orchids and lilium. The industry of growing flowers and other ornamental crops are concentrate around Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Quetta. The places such as Pattoki near Lahore, Sahiwal in Sargodha district and locality in the vicinity in Hyderabad are assumed important because of growing sizeable area of flowers. Following floriculture crops are being grown in different areas of Pakistan including roses, tuberoses, gladiolus, marigold, lilium, chrysanthemum (Pattoki/Lahore), roses, gladioli, carnation, day lily etc (Islamabad/Rawalpindi), tulip, lilies, narcissus, gladioli, roses (Balochistan), daffodil, predominantly (Narcissus, Tazeta) (Northern region (mainly area of Swat and Abbottabad).

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)