Leverage rail connectivity to drive Kashmir’s flower exports: CM Omar

Jammu, Dec 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday called for leveraging the upcoming rail connectivity to Kashmir to market the Valley’s flowers globally.

Chairing a meeting of the Department of Floriculture, Parks, and Gardens at the civil secretariat to review its functioning and discuss strategies to enhance the sector’s potential, the CM highlighted the immense opportunities in the floriculture sector, especially with Kashmir soon to be connected with the rest of the country through railways.

He emphasised the need to leverage this connectivity to market Kashmir’s flowers across India and globally.

“We must engage progressive growers and other stakeholders to fully realise the sector’s potential,” CM Omar said.

He directed the department to plant tulips along the airport road to enhance the aesthetic appeal and launch ad campaigns to attract more tourists to Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden.

The CM emphasised the importance of modernising and mechanising garden maintenance to enhance efficiency while optimising resources and generating revenue.

He urged the department to prioritise initiatives that boost the tourism potential of J&K while preserving the region’s rich natural heritage.

CM Omar emphasised the need for modernisation and mechanisation of garden maintenance, resource optimisation, and revenue generation.

He urged the department to focus on projects that enhance the tourism potential of J&K while preserving its natural heritage.

The meeting was attended by Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, ACS to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, and Directors of Floriculture Kashmir and Jammu.

Earlier, Commissioner Secretary Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad gave a detailed presentation on the department’s functioning, highlighting achievements and ongoing projects.

Key milestones and initiatives discussed included ‘Tulip Show 2024’ in which a record 17 lakh tulips of 72 varieties were planted, attracting 4.46 lakh tourists in March 2024.

The meeting also discussed significant developments in the floriculture sector, including the establishment of ornamental cherry tree gardens (Sakura) and the creation of a Tulip Garden in Sanasar.

The establishment of peony and rose gardens at Pahalgam was also highlighted, alongside progress in the process of enlisting six historic Mughal Gardens as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The discussions further focused on various ongoing and upcoming projects aimed at the modernisation and enhancement of the region’s parks and gardens.

These included the upgradation of Bagh-e-Bahu and the establishment of Bour Camp Garden in Jammu.

Other projects discussed were the development of chrysanthemum plantations at Udhampur, the upgradation of Badam Vaer, and the establishment of the Dara Shikoh Garden.

The creation of theme gardens at Gulmarg, the development of floriculture nurseries, and the establishment of a model flower centre in Jammu were also deliberated.

Additionally, plans for an amphitheatre and beautification projects at Bagh-e-Bahu were reviewed.