Sikkim Orchid Production Gets Boost With Agro-Export Zone

Gangtok, Feb 20 : Sikkim's orchid production will get a boost with an exclusive agro-export zone for its promotion coming up there. The centre will be set up at a cost of over thirty one and a half core rupees.

This was announced by the Deputy Director General (Horticulture) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr. HP Singh while chairing a National Seminar on Orchids in Gangtok today.

He said, orchids rank the sixth in the top ten cut flowers in the international market.

To promote commercialization of cymbidium orchids, the National Research Centre for Orchids, Pakyong has selected fifty five local farmers from five different locations in Sikkim to get training.

Earlier, in his inaugural speech, State Agriculture Minister D.N. Thakerpa said that about nine lakh orchid cut flowers are produced in the Sikkim every year which fetches an annual income of 40,000/- rupees to each family involved in the job.