Ludhiana plays host to two-day Chrysanthemum exhibition

LUDHIANA - A two-day flower exhibition was organized here, showcasing varieties of chrysanthemum.

The Department of Floriculture and Landscaping and the Punjab Agricultural University jointly organised the event in memory of eminent Punjabi poet Bhai Vir Singh, who was born on December 5.

Kushal Singh, a floriculture expert, said 17 hybrid varieties of chrysanthemums have been created for general cultivation in the state.

“In Punjab, farmers are engaged in production of flower seeds. Every year around five-six crores of seeds are exported from here. Secondly, they grow ‘genda’ (marigold) due to cheap expense and good profit. Apart from this, chrysanthemum is being produced here,” said Singh.

“The floriculture university has introduced nine varieties of flowers. We give lectures and training to farmers for the betterment of flowers farming. Apart from this we have released 17 other varieties of chrysanthemums,” he added.

The exhibition contains over 250 varieties of flower.

Tourists also visited the exhibition and appreciated the flowers on display.

“I have seen these flowers exhibition last year on the internet on MySpace. This is my first time, seeing them in real life. They are beautiful. I have not seen flowers like this in America. Some of them are very similar that we grow in our backyards, even in my backyard in Washington,” said Liza, a visitor from America.

Floriculture experts also educated farmers and visitors about the farming of flowers during the exhibition. By Karan Kapoor (ANI)