Meghalaya's ₹240-Crore Floriculture Mission Aims to Yield ₹600-Crore Returns: CM Sangma

On Tuesday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced a major initiative to transform the state into a floriculture hub, unveiling a ₹240-crore investment plan under the ‘Floriculture Mission 1.0’. Spread over the next three years, the mission aims to promote high-value, climate-resilient, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers through the cultivation of exotic flowers.

Speaking at Mawkriah village in the East Khasi Hills district, Sangma emphasized that the initiative marks the highest-ever investment made by any government in the floriculture sector of Meghalaya. The mission is expected to benefit more than 3,000 farmers, each of whom will receive a subsidy of ₹7 lakh. This support will cover critical areas such as input materials, infrastructure development, and training. As of now, nearly 500 farmers have already availed themselves of the benefits offered under the scheme.

The government has outlined that the mission will focus on the cultivation of high-demand flowers like orchids, dendrobium, cymbidium, vanda, phalaenopsis, and oriental lilium. These flower varieties are not only visually appealing but also have significant commercial value in both domestic and international markets.

To ensure successful implementation, the state has partnered with two key service providers — Darjeeling Gardens and North Bengal Floritech. These agencies are responsible for delivering technical expertise, supplying quality planting materials, providing infrastructure support, and establishing assured market linkages. A three-year buyback arrangement has also been made to guarantee that farmers have a ready market for their produce.

According to Sangma, region-specific flower clusters will be developed using scientific and innovative cultivation techniques. The mission will leverage Meghalaya’s unique agroclimatic conditions, which combine tropical and temperate elements, making it an ideal location for growing exotic flowers. This natural advantage will be complemented by improved systems and practices introduced through the mission.

The chief minister underlined that this initiative is part of a larger, comprehensive agricultural strategy aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes, diversifying rural livelihoods, and ensuring sustainable development. He drew parallels with the success of the Lakadong Turmeric Mission, which led to a massive increase in turmeric production — from 1,000 tonnes to over 20,000 tonnes. That mission succeeded through a combination of SHG-led processing units, effective market linkages, and targeted government investments.

Sangma concluded by reaffirming his government’s agricultural vision, which revolves around identifying and leveraging the state’s core strengths, scaling proven models, and making agriculture a central pillar of Meghalaya’s long-term development goals. The Floriculture Mission, he said, is a strategic step in realizing this broader vision and creating long-term economic resilience for rural communities.

Through this mission, the state not only seeks to boost its agricultural output and farmers' incomes but also position itself as a leading player in India’s floriculture sector.