Jammu: Ladakh marked a milestone in commercial floriculture on Tuesday with the despatch of its first air consignment of locally grown lilium flowers to major national markets.
As a symbolic gesture, the LG presented bouquets of the Ladakh-grown blooms to flight crew members carrying the cargo to Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh.
Lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena flagged off the initial shipment of 15,000 “A-grade” stems at Leh airport. Terming the initiative historic, Saxena said that floriculture offers a sustainable, high-value livelihood stream aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for agricultural diversification. “This high-altitude project represents a major economic and visual shift for a region known for rugged, barren terrain,” Saxena said during the flag-off. “Beyond agricultural success, this is a step toward strengthening the socio-economic status of local communities, boosting eco-tourism, and reshaping the visual landscape of Ladakh.”
Following the pilot’s success, Saxena directed deputy commissioners across six other districts—Kargil, Drass, Sham, Changthang, and Zanskar—to replicate the model by identifying at least 20 acres in each region. The administration aims to bring 200 acres under high-value floriculture by next year. The Choglamsar field, housing over 25 lakh flowers, was developed within two months under the administration’s direct oversight. Since opening to the public on September 17, the site has drawn hundreds of daily visitors.
