500 farmers avail Rs 7 lakh subsidy * Highest investment in floriculture so far
Shillong, Aug 5: The Floriculture Mission 1.0 with a focus on high-value flowers aims at benefitting over 3,000 farmers in Meghalaya, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said on Monday.
The Rs-240 crore mission was launched in March 2024 with a vision to transforming the state into a leading floriculture hub of the North East and the country.
During a visit to Mawkriah village in East Khasi Hills, the chief minister highlighted the mission’s goal of turning floriculture into a high-value, climate-resilient, and sustainable livelihood option.
He was accompanied by agriculture minister Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh and MLA Ronnie Lyngdoh, the former Congress MLA who joined the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) recently.
The Floriculture Mission has so far benefitted nearly 500 farmers by providing them Rs 7 lakh subsidy that covers inputs, infrastructure, and training.
Disclosing that this is the highest investment any government has made in floriculture in Meghalaya, Sangma said, “We expect a direct profit generation of ₹600 crore through this mission over the next few years.”
The scheme will focus on cultivating high-value flowers such as Orchids (Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Vanda, and Phalaenopsis) and Oriental Lilium, which are in high demand both in India and in global markets.
The state’s unique agro-climatic conditions — blending tropical and temperate elements — make it ideally suited for such crops.
To ensure quality and sustainability, the government has onboarded two experienced service providers — Darjeeling Gardens and North Bengal Floritech – who will offer technical expertise, high-quality planting materials, infrastructure support, and assured market linkage through a three-year buyback arrangement.
“Region-specific flower clusters are being developed using scientific cultivation techniques,” the chief minister said. “We are building on the state’s natural strengths and innovating with improved systems,” he added.
The floriculture mission is part of the larger agricultural vision of the state, which includes successful programmes like Lakadong Turmeric Mission, where production rose from 1,000 MT to over 20,000 MT, thanks to focused investment, SHG-led processing units, and strong market linkages.
“Meghalaya’s agriculture vision is rooted in identifying our core strengths and scaling them,” he said. “We aim to double farmers’ incomes, diversify rural livelihoods, and make agriculture a cornerstone of sustainable development.”
To meet growing demand and support the expanding floriculture ecosystem, the government is planning to set up dedicated storage and logistics hubs across key production clusters. These hubs will ensure timely transportation, preservation of flower quality, and efficient market access for farmers.
The chief minister also stated that initiatives like CM’s Farm Plus, CM-Assure, and others are being integrated to provide holistic support to farmers across Meghalaya.
