The initiative was aimed at highlighting the patriotic significance of ‘Vande Mataram’ and its 150-year legacy while helping the younger generation connect with the song’s historical importance. Nursery farmer Sathibabu led the initiative, with farmers working for nearly a week to complete the plant-based display. The plants were carefully arranged to form the letters, turning the nursery into an Independence Day attraction.

Young farmers P. Venkatesh and Vinay said the idea was conceived to combine Kadiyam’s nursery expertise with a message of patriotism. The display was intended to convey the spirit and enduring relevance of ‘Vande Mataram’ to the present generation, they said. The initiative also showcased the creativity of Kadiyam’s nursery farmers, who are known for cultivating and maintaining a wide variety of ornamental and other plants.

Water hyacinth
Sold widely for ponds, water features, and aquariums for its attractive purple flowers and glossy leaves, water hyacinth is genuinely one of India’s most damaging invasive aquatic plants. It reproduces astonishingly fast, forming dense mats that choke lakes and rivers across the country, from Bengaluru’s urban lakes to Kerala’s backwaters, blocking sunlight from reaching aquatic life below, depleting oxygen levels as it decomposes, and even obstructing boats and drainage systems. What looks like a harmless decorative pond plant can escape into local waterways with alarming speed, and once established, it’s notoriously difficult to fully remove.

Running bamboo
Bamboo is a nursery favourite for quick, dense privacy screens, but not all bamboo behaves the same way once planted. Running varieties spread aggressively underground through rhizomes that can travel metres away from the original plant, popping up in a neighbour’s garden or cracking through paved paths and building foundations. Unlike clumping bamboo, which grows in a contained, manageable clump, running varieties are genuinely difficult to control once established, and nurseries don’t always clearly distinguish between the two types when selling them.

Lantana camara
This one comes with a genuine contradiction worth understanding properly. Lantana is commonly sold as a hardy, colourful, low-maintenance flowering plant, and it genuinely is easy to grow, but it’s also officially recognised as one of the world’s most damaging invasive species, having spread through Indian forests and grasslands so extensively that it now displaces native vegetation across large stretches of protected wildlife habitat. Kept contained in a pot or a clearly bordered garden bed, it’s manageable, but planted loosely in open ground near natural areas, it can escape and spread with real ecological consequences.

Mint, planted directly in the ground
Mint feels like an obviously safe, useful herb to pick up at a nursery, until it’s been in your garden bed for a season and has quietly spread well beyond where you originally planted it. Its underground rhizomes travel aggressively, popping up metres away and crowding out other plants nearby, which is precisely why experienced gardeners almost always recommend growing it in a contained pot rather than directly in open garden soil, regardless of how harmless it looks sitting in its little nursery container.

Money plant, planted outdoors in the ground
As a houseplant in a pot, money plant, or pothos, is genuinely one of the easiest, most forgiving plants around. The concern arises specifically when it’s planted outdoors in tropical and subtropical climates, where its trailing vines can root wherever they touch soil and climb aggressively up trees and structures, escaping cultivation and spreading into surrounding vegetation. It’s a plant far better kept contained indoors or in a hanging pot than given free rein in an open garden bed in India’s climate.

Tajinder Singh Wazir, Member, J&K Kisan Board for Development of Kisans, said the government’s focus on developing floriculture parks under Smart City projects was welcome, but stressed that commercial floriculture requires sustained institutional support through a well-defined policy.

The farmers called for measures covering working capital, interest subsidies, crop insurance, European-pattern protected cultivation, post-harvest infrastructure and organised marketing support to make floriculture commercially viable for local growers.

They also urged the government to reduce dependence on imported planting material, particularly tulip bulbs, and encourage indigenous production within J&K. Agricultural universities, research institutions and concerned departments, they said, should focus on developing locally suitable planting material, technologies and cultivation practices through a practical and outcome-oriented approach.

The stakeholders said J&K possesses favourable climatic conditions for developing a competitive floriculture industry, but unlocking its potential would require coordinated and sustained intervention by the government.

Wazir appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to consider introducing a special and comprehensive floriculture policy for J&K, with a clear focus on strengthening local production and creating sustainable opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.

The farmers further stressed that local nurserymen should be systematically involved in all new government initiatives related to floriculture and planting material, so that new projects strengthen local production rather than deepen dependence on imports.

How did a Maharashtra farmer turn one-fourth acre into a flower business?

Sabale grew up in a family that cultivated marigolds and chrysanthemums. However, falling prices and oversupply pushed him to look for an alternative. While studying agriculture, he visited different farms and became interested in protected cultivation. In 2016, he started growing roses on about 10 guntha, or one-fourth of an acre. His first experiment produced about 500 roses a day. At an average selling price of Rs 5 per flower, the small plot generated roughly Rs 2,500 a day, according to his account. That encouraged him to expand and eventually add gerberas.

Maharashtra farmer now grows 32,000 plants on one acre

Today, Sabale has divided his one-acre farm between roses and gerberas, with around 16,000 plants of each. He says the farm produces approximately 1,000 roses and 2,000 gerbera flowers every day. At the reported rates of Rs 5 per rose and Rs 4 per gerbera stem, the two crops together can generate around Rs 13,000 in daily sales. However, Sabale puts his daily earnings more conservatively at around Rs 12,000. His reported monthly expenses, including labour, fertilisers, pesticides and packing material, are around Rs 1 lakh.

Why did he choose a low-cost polyhouse?

Instead of investing in an energy-intensive climate-controlled structure, Sabale uses a naturally ventilated polyhouse. The system uses roof vents and side curtains to encourage airflow, reducing the need for cooling fans and electricity. His first 10,000-square-foot structure reportedly cost around Rs 3 lakh when it was installed in 2015-16. The approach also reflects the wider push towards protected cultivation. ICAR-DFR scientists in Pune have recently worked with Maharashtra rose growers on sustainable protected cultivation, recommending practices including fertigation, biological inputs and integrated pest management. The institute said that “scientific management practices contribute to better productivity and economic returns.”

Gerbera farming is already established in Maharashtra

Sabale’s experience is not an isolated example of protected floriculture in the state. The Indian Express previously reported how farmers in drought-prone Osmanabad adopted protected gerbera cultivation, with the number of polyhouses in the district rising from 29 to 266 between 2014 and 2017. Padoli village alone had more than 20 gerbera polyhouses at the time. ICAR has also documented protected cultivation of gerbera and roses as a route towards higher farm revenue and employment.

From flowers to daily cash flow

For Sabale, the biggest difference is the frequency of income. Unlike crops that may take months before harvest, roses and gerberas can be picked regularly. He also sells through multiple channels, supplying local flower stalls and larger markets. Gerberas are transported to cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Hyderabad depending on demand. His story illustrates how crop diversification, protected cultivation and direct market access can change the economics of a small farm. Rather than simply expanding the acreage, Sabale has focused on getting more value from the land he already has, turning one acre into a year-round flower business.

The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit 2026 will be held on September 12 and 13, with India hosting the meeting as chair of the grouping. Key leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, along with outreach invitees, are expected to take part in discussions on strengthening cooperation and key global and regional issues. Seventeen major roundabouts, at least a dozen hotel premises and 10 prominent NDMC buildings are being illuminated as part of the preparations, officials said. Trees, shrubs and landscaped areas around important hotels and along key roads are also being illuminated.

In addition, the NDMC has completed verification of streetlights along all summit-related routes and replaced faulty lights identified during the exercise. Around 350 electrical panel boxes along roads have also been given a facelift with BRICS-themed branding. The lighting arrangements come alongside an extensive horticultural drive, under which more than 15,000 potted ornamental plants are being placed at prominent locations across New Delhi. Floral boards are being installed at 15 locations and floral fountains at nine others, while landscaping, plantation, pruning and trimming of hedges and shrubs have been intensified along major avenues and VIP routes, officials said.

The NDMC has also stepped up work at the BRICS Friendship Rose Garden in Chanakyapuri, which was established in 2016 when India hosted the summit and has 107 varieties of roses. Landscaping, pruning, grass cutting and decorative floral arrangements are being carried out at the garden and along surrounding routes in the diplomatic enclave. The broader preparations have also seen the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Public Works Department carry out joint inspections of key areas, including Bharat Mandapam, Sarai Kale Khan, Lodhi Road, Nizamuddin, Saket and Sheikh Sarai. Officials have been directed to intensify sanitation and cleaning work and ensure adequate deployment of workers and machinery along identified routes and other important locations.

The preparations are part of a wider effort by Delhi authorities to spruce up public spaces and ensure the city is ready to receive delegates and visitors for the summit. India assumed its fourth BRICS chairship on January 1, with its 2026 presidency guided by the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

“I started floriculture as a hobby but realised its commercial potential soon after. My parents have been in love with flowers, using them in decorating our home. Initially, I grew succulents that belong to the cactus family and slowly, started collecting seeds of various flowers,” she says. Vesalu’s parents had worked in the fields all their lives. After losing both within a year of each other, she continued with the family’s tea garden and fruit orchard. It was while looking for another avenue in farming that she began exploring cut flowers.

Starting a flower farm, however, was not easy
“Finding suitable varieties, sourcing quality seeds and bulbs, understanding local climate, and learning the right time for sowing, planting and harvesting were some of my initial challenges,” she says. The cool climate of Pfutsero suits many flowers, but heavy rainfall, frost and changing weather can damage crops. Marketing and transporting fresh flowers, particularly outside the district, brought another set of difficulties. Help came from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), based in Jorhat, Assam. The institute helped her construct a polyhouse and provided technical training. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Phek, also supported her.

The ICAR-KVK, Phek introduced Vesalu to Arka Amar, a high-yielding gladiolus variety developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru. She received 6,000 healthy corms and practical training in scientific cultivation, nutrient and water management, pest and disease control, harvesting, post-harvest handling and corm storage. KVK scientists continued to provide field guidance. The results came quickly. On 0.25 acre planted with the 6,000 corms, Vesalu harvested about 5,400 marketable flower spikes. At an average price of Rs15 a spike, she earned a gross income of Rs 81,000. Her net income was Rs 52,070, with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.80:1.

The success encouraged her to expand and diversify. She began growing premium cut flowers including hydrangea, peony, delphinium, stock, eucalyptus and other seasonal varieties. Her flowers are sold across Nagaland and supplied to cities including New Delhi and Mumbai. She also buys flowers from local growers, giving them another source of income. The polyhouse, established in 2022 under the CSIR Floriculture Mission, became another turning point. It allowed Vesalu to experiment with protected cultivation and try new varieties.

Regardless of India being the world’s second-largest producer of flowers, and the government proclaiming floriculture a 100 per cent export-oriented sunrise sector, the country’s share in the global flower market is dismally meagre. In 2023-24, India exported just 19,678 tonnes of floricultural products, worth ₹717.83 crore ($86.63 million). It amounts to merely 0.6 per cent of international trade in flowers. Besides, the bulk of the shipments generally comprise roses, lilies, carnations, and chrysanthemums. The export potential of other flowers, including some rare types of orchids and many exquisite native flowers, remains undertapped. So is the case with processed and value-added derivatives of flowers, such as dried flowers, flower-based decorative items, and high-end desi perfumes (attars) and essential oils. These products, if aptly promoted, can command a good market abroad.

The concern on this count is all the more grave, considering India’s inherent advantages to emerge as a major player in the global flower bazaar. The varied agro-climatic conditions in different parts of the country allow production of almost all types of flowers to meet the international demand throughout the year, particularly during winters, when supplies from several traditional flower-exporting countries dwindle sharply. Also, growing good-quality flowers in a controlled environment in greenhouses is relatively easy and cost-effective in India, making Indian flowers price-competitive in the international market. Unlike Western countries, polyhouses in India normally do not require artificial cooling in summers or heating in winter. Off-season cultivation of many exotic flowers, too, is possible in open fields or under controlled conditions. Abundant availability of cheap and skilled labour is an additional plus point. Moreover, India is geographically well located between two significant export destinations – Europe (with Holland being the hub of the flower trade), and East Asia (with Japan being a major consumption centre).

Studies have indicated that cultivation of flowers is more profitable than many traditional crops, especially in small and marginal farms, which constitute more than 90 per cent of the country’s landholdings. The Economic Survey 2024-25, which makes a special mention of floriculture among the lucrative agribusinesses, maintains that intercropping of flowering plants, along with conventional crops of cereals, pulses and oilseeds, is more remunerative than many prevailing cropping sequences. It also observes that there has been a noticeable shift in recent years from growing traditional flowers to export-focused cut flowers.

In the high-altitude region, orchards are now home to advanced high-density apple varieties, reflecting a gradual transition from conventional farming to commercial fruit cultivation. The change has been supported by government initiatives and technical assistance from the Department of Horticulture.

Local farmer Kartar Singh said he adopted advanced apple varieties with support from government welfare schemes aimed at promoting modern farming practices.

“I have made a fresh start by planting advanced varieties of apple saplings. I have directly benefited from various welfare schemes launched by the Prime Minister for farmers. It is because of these schemes that farmers are adopting modern techniques and becoming ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant),” Singh said.

Another farmer, Abdul Razak, said high-altitude horticulture presents several challenges, including heavy snowfall, hailstorms and strong winds, but the long-term rewards make the effort worthwhile.

“The journey is not an easy one. In the beginning, farmers face numerous natural challenges such as heavy snowfall, hailstorms, strong winds and other climatic hurdles. But the joy of seeing fruit on the trees after years of hard work is beyond words. When I reach my orchard and see the trees laden with fruit, it brings a unique sense of peace to my heart. This hard work is what inspires us to move forward,” Razak said.

District Horticulture Officer Mohammad Shakil said the department aims to develop Bani into a major horticulture hub in Jammu and Kashmir by expanding modern fruit cultivation.

“The climate and geographical conditions of Bani are highly favourable for apples and other fruit crops. Through various government schemes, the department is providing farmers with saplings, technical guidance and other essential facilities. The department is working continuously to ensure more farmers connect with modern horticulture to give a new direction to the region’s economy,” Shakil said.

Officials said the expansion of high-density apple orchards is expected to increase farmers’ incomes, create local employment opportunities and contribute to the overall economic development of Kathua district.

Production in 2022-23 was 355.48 million tonnes. Within this, vegetables production in 2023-24 is estimated to be around 209.39 million tonnes, which was 1.5 per cent less than the previous year while fruits production is estimated to be around 112.08 million tonnes which was 1.7 per cent more than the previous year.

The production of vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, tapioca, tomato and banana, and mango in fruits will increase in 2023-24. The area under horticulture crops marginally increaseed to 28.77 million hectares in 2023-24 from 28.44 million hectares in 2022-23, according to an official statement.

Horticultural crops are characteristically more productive and remunerative than food crops. Their productivity, on the whole, averages around 12.5 tonnes a hectare, some five times the grain crops’ mean yield of about 2.5 tonnes. Many horticultural crops, especially vegetables, have a short life cycle, spanning a few weeks, to allow raising multiple crops on the same piece of land in a year. Another reason for high returns from horticulture is the greater market value of fruit, vegetables, spices, and other horticultural goods than that of cereals. Horticultural products also have an edge over food grains in terms of nutritional value, being rich in vitamins, minerals, and numerous other health-boosting ingredients. Little wonder, therefore, that horticulture contributes roughly 33 per cent of the value of gross domestic agricultural production (agri-GDP), though it occupies only around 23 per cent of the total agricultural land.