LEH: Ladakh has taken its first major step towards commercial floriculture as Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday flagged off the first air consignment of 15,000 “A-grade” Lilium stems from KBR Airport, Leh, for national flower markets.
Cultivated at an altitude of 10,600 feet, the flowers comprise red, pink, white, yellow and orange varieties and have a shelf life of five to seven days. The consignment will primarily cater to markets in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh. A-grade stems, carrying four to five buds, command premium prices in domestic retail markets, where Liliums can fetch between ₹150 and ₹200 per stem.
Terming the initiative a “historic” step, Saxena said floriculture could emerge as an alternative and sustainable livelihood avenue for farmers and young entrepreneurs in the Union Territory. He also presented bouquets of Ladakh-grown Liliums to the aircraft crew as a symbolic gesture marking the first shipment.
The pilot project has already generated local employment, with 15 women engaged in cutting, sorting and packaging the flowers at a daily wage of ₹900 each. A qualified local botanist has been tasked with marketing the flowers in national markets.
The administration now plans to scale up the initiative across Ladakh. Deputy Commissioners of Kargil, Drass, Sham, Changthang and Zanskar have been directed to identify at least 20 acres in each district for high-value flower cultivation. The administration aims to bring at least 200 acres under floriculture by next year.
The Leh flower field, featuring more than 25 lakh Liliums, was developed within two months. Opened to the public on September 17, it has since attracted hundreds of visitors daily, adding a new dimension to Ladakh’s tourism and agricultural landscape.
