The Meghalaya Floriculture Mission is creating new livelihood opportunities for farmers through subsidised greenhouse infrastructure, high-value planting materials and a buy-back arrangement for flowers, with the state government targeting more than 3,000 beneficiaries over three years.
Launched in March 2024, the mission involves a government investment of Rs 240 crore to develop Meghalaya as a commercial floriculture hub. The programme is centred on community-based farms cultivating orchids and other high-value ornamental flowers, including Oriental Liliums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, carnations, gladiolus, roses and houseplants.
Under the scheme, selected farmers receive subsidy packages of around Rs 7 lakh. The support covers planting inputs, greenhouse or polyhouse infrastructure, training and high-value planting materials. The programme is designed to combine production support with market access, addressing one of the key risks faced by small growers entering specialised agricultural markets.
In North Garo Hills, farmers Kasan K Sangma of Jonglapara and Nikre Marak of Bakra-Haluapara, both under Resubelpara block, have established floriculture farms under the mission. Around 1,100 Dendrobium and Vanda orchid planting materials were provided to the two farmers, with cultivation beginning in 2025, an official from the Directorate of Horticulture said.
The mission has engaged an empanelled service provider to support beneficiaries across the production chain. According to the Directorate of Horticulture official, the service provider is responsible for capacity building, planting, infrastructure development and marketing. The buy-back arrangement is intended to ensure that farmers are not required to independently find markets for their produce.
The pricing structure for Dendrobium orchid stems is linked to quality grades. Grade A+ stems are priced at Rs 17 each, Grade A at Rs 15, Grade B at Rs 10 and Grade C at Rs 7. The orchids have a flowering lifespan of around five to six years, according to the official, giving the programme a longer production horizon than a one-season cultivation activity.
Marketing activities have only recently begun, and the government said the flowers could find markets beyond Meghalaya and the wider Northeast in other parts of the country. The buy-back system and service-provider support are expected to allow farmers to concentrate on cultivation while the programme develops supply and distribution channels.
The Directorate of Horticulture said the initiative is expected to strengthen livelihood opportunities, particularly for women floriculture farmers. Meghalaya’s authorised state flower, the Lady’s Slipper Orchid, is also being used as a focal point for the state’s effort to build a commercial floriculture sector around locally suitable high-value crops.
