Tulips likely to bloom in Chhattisgarh too

Koriya (Chhattisgarh): It is likely that tulips will dot the landscape of north Chhattisgarh recreating Kashmir in spring.

Scientists of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, and Sher-e-Kashmir of Agricu-lture Science and Technology, Jammu, have made a breakthrough in identifying three of over 3,000 varieties of tulips and an equal number of species of lilium family as suitable for cultivation in the hilly region of north Chhattisgarh.

“Field trials of cultivation of three varieties of tulips and an equal number of species of lilium has been successfully done in our agriculture research centre in Koriya,” said Dr Ranjit Rajput, agriculture scientist at the centre.

“The findings have a potential to give a boost to the economy of the tribal-dominated region,” said Dr K.K.Sahu, spokesman of the Indira Gandhi Agriculture University.

The Koriya KVK team comprising scientists Dr Rajput and Dr Kunti Bajara along with scientist of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology, Dr Naser Hamid Masood, has conceived and executed the project.

It may be noted that the bulbs were imported from Netherlands for undertaking field trials. As many as 1,600 bulbs of each variety were planted in mid-December 2016 and the yield of full bloom tulip was “done” in last week of February.

The three species of tulip found suitable for growing included Whispering Dream, Argus White and Nagrita, while the varieties of lilium which can be grown in the belt included Litowin, Neshville and Brindisi.

According to the study, nursing of each bulb costs Rs 50-55, and each of them yields 2-3 flowers, which fetch around Rs 40-45 each in the market, generating a profit of Rs 90 for each bulb.