Second international flower festival kicks off

Gangtok Feb 17: The Saramsa Garden in east Sikkim looked blissfully smiling with the flowers of utmost variety though the inclement weather did play a spoilsport as it was Balmiki Prasad Singh, the governor of Sikkim in a last minute change had to inaugurate the second edition of the International Flower Show 2013. The union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was supposed to inaugurate the show but aborted his plans to visit Sikkim due to inclement weather.

Altogether a total of eighty two stalls have been put up for the show that has participation from nine countries, seven states from the Indian union and 31 private entrepreneurs. Apart 16 foreign delegates have also chipped in with their set of flowers. The organizers expects to have atleast 2 lakh visitors in the event where programmes like conferences, workshops, buyers and sellers meet along with exhibitions are lined up between February 23 and 27.

“Our ancestors played a vital role in conserving the flora and fauna of the land along with water by worshipping Mother Nature. The present society should also continue the process to conserve the natural wealth of the state,” said the governor after inauguration. 

The union government in a bid to encourage north eastern states on horticulture has already formulated a policy in the 12^th five year plan. But the Sikkim state government took the initiative way before the union government formulated the policy by encouraging the growers and farmers. The government has regularly been providing infrastructure, financial assistance, support and training in this regard. “The mega event of this sort will help encourage more farmers and give them the maximum exposure in the commercial market. We want more youths to get involved in floriculture,” added the governor hoping that the National Orchid Research Centre at Pakyong will provide more support to budding farmers.

The Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling who was present during the function however said that his government has been taking various steps towards protection and conservation of bio-diversity in the state. “The international flower show is an attempt towards this. It is an attempt to showcase our strengths and attract foreign and domestic investors to the region. This should certainly be a new sharing experience for the floriculturist of the state,” said Chamling.