NASIR YOUSUFI
Srinagar: Early in the morning, Ghulam Qadir Akhoon, a retired gardener starts watering saplings in his flower nursery in his family owned land in Srinagar.
His nursery is among one of the largest nurseries in the valley. Growing hundreds of varieties of ornamental and flowering plants, the nature enthusiast is now an employer of about 20 people.
“I was joined by my two siblings in running the nursery, as soon as they got an inkling of its potential,” he says while referring to his two brothers who assisted the agripreneur in running the successful flower business.
“Now my son, three nephews and a niece are also engaged in the same trade,” says the gardener while asserting that what was once a hobby has gradually transformed into a flourishing family business.
Two kilometers from this nursery is a small cottage housing Golden Flower Nursery. Arranged in a scientific design, the thousands of plants comprising of dozens of varieties reflect a perfect compatibility with the picturesque landscape of Boulevard road running between the Zabarwan hills and Dal lake. Established about a decade ago, the nursery is preferred stopover for both local as well as domestic tourists who throng the area for sightseeing.
“I have bought two chinar saplings. I would like to grow this magnificent plant back at home”, says a tourist from Mumbai. “Besides I would like to take some Holland bulbs from here,” adds the tourist, while taking selfies around the nursery.
As the demand for ornamental and flowering plants sees the uptick -more and more people are being attracted towards the trade resulting in the generation of employment and revenue.
Ghulam Mohi Ud Din, the owner of Golden Flowers says that earlier he used to do it all alone but now there are about nine workers who assist him. “If the demand persists, I’ll have to employ more people,” he adds.
Apart from the men; the women too have taken a centre stage. Apart from working at home, they help the men in backyard activities like watering the seedlings, soil filling of pots and sowing of seeds.
Jameela Begum, a housewife says that while her husband and two sons are busy dealing with customers in selling and transporting the stuff, she along with her college going daughter spend ample time in taking care of the plants and vases in nursery developed in a backyard of their house on the outskirts of Srinagar.
For last three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of women taking to nursery business. Government records reveal surge in number of women entering the field.
According to Assistant Floriculture Officer, Incharge Commercial Floriculture Srinagar, there are more than 300 nurseries registered with the department. “In past few years, we have issued scores of licenses to new entrepreneurs including a good number of women. Besides hand holding these units, the department is providing every possible help to these agripreneurs in terms of poly-houses, subsidized seeds and skill empowerment.”
He says that the sector is still untapped as there is a tremendous scope for nursery business in the region. “Keeping in view the conducive environment the regions is bestowed with and the requirement of small land holding for establishing the nurseries, the nursery business provides ample opportunity to unemployed youth in terms of revenue and employment,” opines the officer.
Experts believe that the spurt in nursery business in the valley has its roots in the Covid pandemic three years ago; a blessing in disguise!
During subsequent lockdowns, people spent a considerable time in developing the landscape around. “From open lawns, vertical gardens to hanging pots and flower vases, development of landscape around home for aesthetic and mental hygiene has gained momentum in both urban and rural Kashmir,” says Dr Ali Mohammad Rather, a prominent sociologist from Srinagar.
Physician Dr Saba Mir from central Kashmir’s Budgam echoes similar views: “Earlier I seldom got time to modify the back lawn of my house. But during lockdown period, I along with my husband developed it into an adorable patch of land. I have adored it with many varieties of ornamental plants like maple, Germenia and black roses too.”
As more and more people invest their time in the aesthetic act, the nursery growers eye good returns for their hard work and blooming business.
