Hapur, a hub of flower, vegetable production

HAPUR - Exporting fresh flowers to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and selling high-value vegetables to hotels and embassies in Delhi, this town in western Uttar Pradesh has become the hub of flourishing new businesses.

While much of the flowers and vegetables are exported, a lot go to hotels and embassies in New Delhi, and the rest is sold in Connaught Place, Khan Market and INA Market in the capital.

Growing flowers from gladiolus to tuberoses, from dahlias to gerberas, many of the cultivators have erected huge poly houses with the support of the district horticulture department and Horticulture Mission. Poly houses are protective shades used for growing high-value agricultural products.

Scientists from Holland also pay regular visits to the area in order to provide expertise to farm owners to develop novel techniques to boost their produce.

Horticulture officials and some farm cultivators reveal that the production of high-grade flowers and vegetables in the Hapur area in the last two years has surpassed that of other areas around Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab.

Companies from Dubai, Southeast Asia and some European countries are regular buyers of flowers and vegetables from the area.

Vijay Pal Singh, a mushroom cultivator at Mohammadpur Azampur village near Hapur, told IANS: “An expert from Meerut guided me in producing mushrooms. I have also applied for subsidy from the state government.”

Foreseeing a good market, cultivators have also started to grow cherries and strawberries.

Shraddha Nand Pradhan, who has five poly houses in over six acres in Tigri village near Hapur, said: “Setting up poly houses was almost impossible in this area as they require huge power and capital. But we made it possible by erecting naturally-ventilated enclosures. We send around 1,500 bundles (15,000 flowers) of gerbera daily to Delhi shops and 500-600 bundles (6,000 flowers) of roses every day to the flower market.

“Our varieties are sourced from Bangalore and Pune, render a high yield and are superior. While in India, there is more demand for just the flower, in foreign countries, the longer the stem, the higher the flower is priced. Our roses sell for Rs.10-20 per piece, while gerbera sells for Rs.20-45 a piece on normal days,” he said.

Vegetable cultivator Satish Kumar told IANS: “We produce everything from broccoli, leek, celery, tomatoes, cherry and onion. Mother Dairy and five-star hotel contractors purchase in bulk from us. Then we have exports, and a huge quantity sells at posh Delhi markets too.”

District horticulture officer Dharam Pal Yadav said: “The floral and vegetable produce in the area is rising and has remained very high in the last two years. The potential in the region is enormous and we are seeing what more can be done. We are inviting foreign dignitaries to come and visit the area. We are also ensuring that cultivators utilise all state and central government schemes for their benefit.”

(S.P. Singh can be contacted at spsinghg@gmail.com)