Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced a ₹240 crore investment over the next three years to transform the state into a floriculture hub, leveraging its unique agroclimatic conditions. Speaking in Mawkriah village, East Khasi Hills, Sangma outlined the Floriculture Mission 1.0, aimed at making floriculture a high-value, climate-resilient, and sustainable livelihood for over 3,000 farmers, with each receiving a ₹7 lakh subsidy for inputs, infrastructure, and training.
“This is the highest investment any government has made in floriculture in Meghalaya,” Sangma declared, projecting a direct profit of ₹600 crore in the coming years. Nearly 500 farmers have already benefited from the scheme, which focuses on high-demand flowers like orchids, dendrobium, cymbidium, vanda, phalaenopsis, and oriental lilium. Region-specific flower clusters, supported by scientific cultivation techniques, will target domestic and international markets.
Meghalaya has partnered with Darjeeling Gardens and North Bengal Floritech to provide technical expertise, quality planting materials, infrastructure, and a three-year buyback arrangement for assured market linkage. The state’s tropical-temperate climate, ideal for exotic flowers, underpins this ambitious initiative. In 2024, Meghalaya’s floriculture exports, particularly orchids, contributed ₹50 crore to the economy, with potential to triple by 2028, per agricultural department estimates.
Also Read: Rs 422 Crore Boost for Assam Farmers: PM-KISAN Delivers Big!
Sangma highlighted the mission as part of a broader agricultural strategy, citing the Lakadong Turmeric Mission, which boosted production from 1,000 to over 20,000 tons through SHG-led processing and market linkages. “Meghalaya’s vision is rooted in scaling our core strengths,” he said, emphasizing goals to double farmers’ incomes and diversify rural livelihoods. The state’s focus on sustainable agriculture aligns with initiatives like the Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission and Ginger Mission, which have increased farmer revenues by 30% since 2022.
The floriculture push complements Meghalaya’s eco-tourism and organic farming efforts, with plans to integrate flower festivals into tourism circuits, potentially attracting 10,000 additional visitors annually. Sangma’s vision positions agriculture as a cornerstone of sustainable development, aiming to make Meghalaya a model for high-value, eco-friendly farming.
Also Read: PM Modi to Release Rs 20,500 Crore for 9.7 Crore Farmers in Epic PM-Kisan Payout!