Floriculture
Floriculture sector has been identified as a focus segment and accorded a top priority. Income of farmers from flower cultivation has seen a phenomenonal jump due to ever growing demand for flowers in domestic and international markets this sector is generating employment. The Government has taken several measures to promote this activity.

• Ornamental Floriculture

Department is involved in maintenance and development of Gardens and Parks in the valley to boost tourism at the prime tourist destinations; like Mughal Gardens (Nishat, Shalimar, Cheshmashahi, Pari Mahal, Verinag, Achabal and Jarokabagh), Botanical Garden, Kokernag, Pahalgam, Manasbal, Tulip Garden, Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden, Children Park, 98 city parks and VIP Quarters. Besides, department is involved in production of flower seedlings and other ornamental plants, from its nursery known as Plant Introduction Section located at Cheshmashahi. In addition, maintenance and development of various Zanana/Children Parks is also an ongoing responsibility. Renovation, restoration and preservation of heritage gardens are some other major initiatives of the department.

• Commerical Floriculture

In the recent years, the Department has laid a major thrust on commercial floriculture, through the medium Centrally Sponsored Schemes-Technology Mission, RKVY for Integrated Development of Floriculture and sufficient progress has been registered by involving farmers of different categories, particularly unemployed youth. People are showing a positive response to different schemes, but still there is a challenge with regard to the "Post Harvest Management and Marketing". Post Harvest Management and Marketing is a vital component of Commercial Floriculture, which is managed optimally, resource limitation. Symmetrically, Floriculture is playing its role of creating and maintaining various parks and gardens, these assets create a favorable environment for tourism and recreational activities. With the inexorable adoption of floriculture as a commercial activity, not only at the national but at international level as well, department has developed links in popularizing commercial floriculture in the valley. Floriculture has a vast scope and potential in the valley, which is evident from the fact that during the year 1996, an area of 80 Ha was under flower cultivation in J&K, which has currently expanded to the level of 350 Ha, with an annual turnover of about Rs.1350 lacs. Further, more than 1500 youth are directly engaged under commercial floriculture sector in Kashmir Division. Moreover, an area of about 9.297 Hac. has been covered under protected cultivation, in private sector by raising Tubular Structure Poly Houses; High Tech Poly Houses, Shade Net Houses, etc. A flower mandi has also been established and inaugurated by Hon'ble Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture on 15th October, 2012 at Rajbagh, Srinagar, with an objective to provide facilities, like marketing, cold storage facilities for preservations of cut flowers for the flower growers on no-profit no -loss basis
In order to facilitate flower production, department has introduced contract farming for establishing flower-seed villages. Seeds of different flowers like, Cosmos, Zinnia and Salvia have been provided to the growers of the valley, in the buy-back scheme.
Details Of Outlays And Expenditure (Plan Schemes) & Revenue Realized W.E.F 2009-10 Of Floriculture Department, Kashmir

The Department has taken a number of initiatives to provide liberal financial and technical assistance, besides providing post-harvest facilities for the benefit of the growers. With the financial assistance available under various schemes, sizeable progress has been registered by involving farmers of different categories, particularly the un-employed youth in the cultivation of various kinds and varieties of cut flowers like Carnation, Lillium, Gladiolus, Marigold, and also in seed production both under open field and green house conditions.

Floriculture scenario in Jammu region
In winter season the plain areas of Jammu Division is in full blossom of varied flower crops while as in summer season in temperate areas of other districts of the region. In winter season maximum cultivation is possible in plain areas of Jammu Division and the climatic conditions are also conducive for cultivation of flower crops. In summer season, the multiplication of flower bulbs can be taken on large scale in temperate areas of Jammu Division.

The Floriculture industry has an immense potential for employment generation the present floriculture industry is dynamic, fast growing industry, which has achieved a significant growth rate during the last few years. Jammu region is also starving hard for paving its way to emerge as an important production base for floriculture products.

The Department is implementing various plan schemes which are primarily focused for the development and popularization of ornamental and recreational floriculture with a view to catch the attention of the tourists and also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the State. Development of new parks, beautification of existing parks/ gardens, restoration, preservation and maintenance of heritage gardens are the major activities under plan sector.

The details of the Physical/financial notable achievements made by the department during the year 2014-15 ending Feb-2015.

• An amount of Rs. 40.57 lacs has been expended ending Feb-2015, both under Centrally Sponsored Schemes RKVY and MIDH. An area of 129.77 hectares of land has been covered under different varieties of flower crops.
• 403 nos. of progressive growers including women have been awarded about the significance of cultivation of flower crops by way of organizing of training programmes/awareness camps at different levels i.e District level, state level and outside the state. An amount of Rs. 5.65 lacs has been expended on these training programmes during the year 2014-15 under MIDH.
• The department of Floriculture is striving hard to percolate the benefits of Centrally Sponsored Schemes to the real progressive growers of the Division, and it is expected that good impact of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes will be visualized in near future.