Availability of good and healthy planting material is the prerequisite to start the productive orchid cultivation. To make the healthy orchid planting material available to the growers of Sikkim state, under the NEH grant of ICAR-National Institute of Plant Bio-technology, New Delhi, ICAR-NRC for Orchids, Pakyong, organised a one-day training cum orchid planting material distribution program here on the campus at Pakyong.
Dr. S. P. Das, Director, ICAR-NRCO, in the opening remarks, outlined the potential of the orchids in the state of Sikkim and encouraged the growers to work towards amplifying the beauty of orchids into a business. Dr. T. K. Mondal, PS and Nodal Officer (NEH), ICAR-NIPB, motivated the growers to take the cultivation in large scale to catch the demand of orchids in the metropolitan cities. A total of 20 farmers from different villages of Pakyong District received the orchid planting materials. Dr. Kalaivanan, N.S, Scientist & Nodal officer (NEH), ICAR-NRCO coordinated the program with ICAR-NIPB and growers.