In a strategic move to foster economic development and empower local communities, Meghalaya has commenced the production of Dendrobium orchid cut flowers in the Umsning Block of Ri-Bhoi, an aspirational district within the state. The ambitious objective is to establish Ri-Bhoi as a prominent district for orchid cut flower production within Meghalaya.
This pioneering project is a collaborative endeavor between the Bio Resources Development Centre (BRDC), Upper Shillong, and the Institute of Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Upper Shillong. The initiative has received crucial financial support from the BIRAC-BioNEST scheme, under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
The northeastern states of India, including Meghalaya, are blessed with a climate conducive to the commercial cultivation of orchids. Among the various commercial orchid varieties, Dendrobium hybrids dominate the landscape, accounting for a substantial 85 percent of the orchid cultivation.
There exists a substantial demand, both nationally and in the export market, for Dendrobium cut flower spikes that meet commercial standards. Locally, the demand surges during peak wedding seasons, All Souls’ Day, and other festive occasions. To fulfill this demand, florists often have to source orchids from regions such as Thailand or South India.
However, the untapped potential of producing commercial-grade Dendrobium cut flowers in Meghalaya has prompted BRDC, Upper Shillong, and IBSD, Meghalaya, to undertake this initiative jointly.
The project’s core objective is to harness the commercial production of Dendrobium cut flowers in Meghalaya, fostering bio-resource entrepreneurship and establishing a thriving cottage-scale industry for Dendrobium cut flowers across the state. This endeavor aims to create gainful employment opportunities for women and youth in the region.
The project operates on a Hub and Spoke model, facilitating end-to-end demonstrations of commercial Dendrobium cut flower production technology at the village level through a cluster-based approach within the Ri-Bhoi district.
The central hub, managed by a Self Help Group (SHG) with over ten members, operates two 500-square-meter polyhouses at Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre, Nongdiengngan. These polyhouses have distributed approximately 12,000 plantlets. The ten spokes, each covering an area of 300 square meters, have received a total of 49,000 plantlets.
The implementing agencies have already provided vital infrastructure, training, technical expertise, and planting materials to both the hub and spokes. The central hub plays a pivotal role by filling potential gaps in the spokes, including the supply of quality planting materials at mutually agreed rates. This central hub also serves as a collection center for marketing the produce.
With a substantial market demand, particularly for orchids, this initiative is poised to catalyze the commercial production of Dendrobium orchids. It will empower women SHGs, facilitating economic growth for sustainable development.
Initially, the project seeks to bridge the local supply gap for orchids, with aspirations to expand to meet national and global demands in the future. Expected outcomes encompass self-sustaining orchid farming, innovative large-scale production practices, community motivation for self-sustaining orchid enterprises, job creation, skill development, and the emergence of new economic activities.
Furthermore, the project targets the training of approximately 1000 farmers by its conclusion, with a vision to create 100 self-sufficient women entrepreneurs within the third year. Additionally, the project is set to create a tourist hotspot, providing a platform for showcasing and selling Dendrobium cut flowers.