The Annual Flower Show- 2016 was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Saturday morning here in the premises of Ekamra Kanan botanical garden.
Replying to a media query at the inauguration, Padhi said floriculture in Odisha offers growing business and employment generation opportunities. The Government has put in place the supporting mechanism and various schemes for promotion of the floriculture and its trade.
Padhi added that it was an entrepreneur driven Government supported event. He also informed that the show is gaining increasing popularity each year with more and more business prospects. The exhibition will conclude on January 10.
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Principal Secretary Forest and Environment Suresh Mohapatra, Director, Horticulture Susant Nanada and Plant lovers’ Association president Khirod visited various sections of the exhibition. The Chief Secretary also inaugurated two books, Carnivorous Plants of Odisha authored by Prasad Kumar Das and 24th Volume of the journal Sabujima published by Plant lovers Association.
This year around 88 gardens have participated. The number of participants in cut flower, flower arrangement, group display potted flowering foliage categories have increased up to 500. Various competitions in flower decoration, cut flower and garden display varieties were organised. The gardens situated within a 20-km radius of Bhubaneswar were included in the competitions.
Subject experts from OUAT have been nominated as judges for various competitions. Around 61 individuals and institutions have been selected for prizes in various categories. A plant bazaar has been organized in the exhibition where ornamental plants, flowering plants, seed, fertilizers, implements, garden tools and pesticides are available to the people on sale.