Agri Export Zones For Floriculture In Sikkim

T he Government has set up six Agri Export Zones (AEZs) in the country for development of floriculture and promotion of exports. These AEZs are in the States of Tamil Nadu (two AEZs) one in Dharmapuri district and another in Nilgiris district, one AEZ in Maharashtra covering the districts on Pune, Nasik, Kohlapur and Sangli, one AEZ in Karnataka covering the districts of Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Kolar, Kodagu and Urban, Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Kolar, Kodagu and Tumkur, one AEZ in Sikkim covering East Sikkim district and one AEZ in Uttarakhand covering the districts of Dehradun, Pant Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital and Uttarkashi. In addition, the Government is implementing various schemes for the development of horticultural crops including floriculture. Under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of (i) Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States (TMNE) including Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarkhand, being implemented since 2001-02 and (ii) National Horticulture Mission, being implemented since 2005-06, assistance is provided to the farmers for cultivation of flowers. Besides, National Horticulture Board is also providing assistance under the Scheme of ‘Development of Commercial Horticulture through Production and Post Harvest Management’, in which flowers are also covered. This information was given in the Lok Sabha today by Shri Kanti Lal Bhuria, Minister of State for Agriculture in written reply