Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh V.K. Saxena flagged off first commercial air cargo consignment of Lilium flowers grown in the Union Territory yesterday.
Addressing the media, Mr Saxena informed that the commercial cargo marks the beginning of a new chapter in Ladakh’s agricultural history.
Mr. Saxena said, the Horticulture/Floriculture project was started as a pilot and the crop has bloomed successfully with excellent quality due to Ladakh’s favourable climate and temperature.
“A-grade” Liliums are flower stems bearing four to five buds and command premium prices in the market. The first consignment comprises red, pink, white, yellow and orange varieties, all cultivated at an altitude of 10,600 feet at the world’s highest-altitude flower field in Leh.
With a shelf life of five to seven days, the flowers will be supplied to domestic markets, primarily in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.