The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

50 award-winning entries at science fair
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 28
In a science exhibition organised on the occasion of golden jubilee of Vidya Bharti, 50 award winning entries of science projects from the north region were displayed at Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana. The exhibits were on display this morning. The students from Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pardesh and different parts of Punjab were participating in this exhibition.

Since the participants had come from different states, there was quite a few repetition of the models. Management of Water was one such model.

The students had prepared this model to show how one can save rain water both for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The students from Delhi had made a very good model of Delhi White Revolution. The model explained through different processes how milk reached the consumers. They said that it was made possible due to the vision of one enlightened man, Dr Verghese Kurrien.

The models on Information and Technology were also exhaustive. The students had made models to show the benefits of keeping cows at home. The students smartly explained their models.

COURTS

Four aquitted
Our Correspondent

Khamano, December 28
Mr G.S. Gill, Sessions Judge of Fatehgarh Sahib, has aquitted Mr Bhinder Singh Ranwan and three others, Mr Dilwar Singh, Mr Sher Singh and Mr Baljit Singh, in a case filed by Mr Ram Singh. Mr Ram Singh had alleged that the accused had beaten up him in Manderan village and burnt his turban on December 5, 2000.

The police had registered a case under Sections 457, 295A, 323/34 of the IPC and Section 3 (2-3) of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocity Act, 1989.

Mr Ranwan said he would file a defamation case against police officials for registering a false case against him.

Meanwhile, Mr Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, state president, BKU, Mr Satnam Singh Behru, convener, Kisan Wingh, SAD (A), Mr Justice Singh Bains of the Human Rights Commission, and Mr Bahadur Singh and Mr Kuldip Singh, local BKU leaders, have demanded an enquiry in this regard.

CULTURE

Hundred-flower revolution, Punjab style
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, December 28
Floriculture can play a big role in the diversification of agriculture in Punjab, as there is a big scope for its development as an industry here. Punjab has already made a beginning in this direction and some enterprising farmers have taken up the cultivation of flower seeds, bulbs, cut flowers and loose flowers.

Dr Romesh Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping in Punjab Agricultural University, says that the trade of flowers in India is to the tune of Rs 250 crore and Delhi alone accounts for Rs 50 crore in this. Commercial cultivation of flowers is done in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. The production of loose flowers is estimated to be 3 lakh tonnes, while that of the cut flowers is about 600 million tonnes.

The export of flowers has also picked up and export-oriented cut-flower units have come up around Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh and Amritsar. The major markets for these flowers are Europe and Japan.

Dr Romesh Kumar says that Punjab has a suitable climate for flower-seed production. Winter in Punjab is like the European winter, so, most of the crops grown in these countries can be sown in Punjab. Studies conducted in the PAU have shown that our flower-seed yield was as good as that of many developed nations. About 40 crops and a large number of varieties have been tested.

There are six seed-exporting agencies in Punjab that send out seeds to Holland, Germany, France, the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. The flower crop, generally, replaces wheat crop and gives three times the profit given by wheat crop. About 12,000 acres are under winter flower-seed cultivation in the state. The export of flower seeds yields Rs 6 crore every year and there is a wide scope for expanding the area under flower-seed cultivation.

Seed-producing companies face problems like shortage of finances and space for storing seeds that are not lifted. Flowers need to be stored at 10°C, where relative humidity is less than 30 per cent throughout the year.

Dr Romesh Kumar says that there is a wide scope for the production of various hybrid seeds in Punjab, as suitable climate and skilled labour are available here.

Facilities like heat-proof plastic houses, quick and subsidiary transportation and soft loans can be made available to growers to compete in domestic and foreign markets.

The area under cut-flower cultivation can be increased to 500 acres. For the cultivation of loose flowers, it can be expanded to 1,000 acres, as it is estimated that loose-flower business in cities like Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala is to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore annually. Flowers are brought here from Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata.

Dry flowers, too, have a major share in the trade. Dahlias, marigold, jute flower, wood roses, wild lilies, heichrysum, briza, brumus and lotus pods can be easily processed and preserved as dry flowers.

Rose, jasmine and tuberose have a large and consistent share in the fragrance market. India has a huge production of these and the climatic conditions of India favour a rapid expansion of the area under such cultivation.

In Punjab, essential-oil industry has a wide scope and, under the diversification programme, about 5,000 acres can be brought under the cultivation of crops like rose, jasmine, tuberose and marigold. Places in the Kandi area are more suitable for essential-oil production.

Dr Kumar also stressed the need for making floriculture bring in jobs and diversification of agriculture. For this, the PAU, development agencies and banks should work in close coordination.