Context:
APEDA facilitated first-ever export of Anthurium Flowers from Mizoram to Singapore.
Anthurium:
- A genus of flowering plants known for its ornamental value
- Native Range – Found in tropical regions of the Americas, particularly in rainforests.
- Distribution in India – Primarily cultivated in Mizoram (organizes the annual “Anthurium Festival”)
- Significance – NASA has placed it in the list of air purifier plants as it purify the surrounding air and remove harmful airborne chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia etc.
- Key Features –
- Herbaceous plants (plants that have non-woody stems)
- Often epiphytic (growing on other plants).
- Requires warm, humid climates with indirect sunlight.
- Propagated through seeds, cuttings, or division of clumps.
Floriculture sector in India:
- Floriculture involves the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for various purposes, such as direct sale, cosmetics, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Recognized as a sunrise industry in India
- Major centers of cultivation – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh.
- Export destinations – USA, Netherlands, Germany, UK, UAE, Canada.
- Government Initiatives –
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) – Centrally Sponsored Scheme for holistic growth of horticulture.
- Components include National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH), National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB), and Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH).
- 60% contribution by GoI for most states; 90% for North Eastern and Himalayan states.
- APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) – Responsible for export promotion
- Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Floriculture Mission – A nation-wide mission to enhance the income of farmers and develop entrepreneurship through high value floriculture utilising CSIR technologies.
- FDI in Floriculture – 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route is allowed in the Floriculture sector
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) – Centrally Sponsored Scheme for holistic growth of horticulture.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Cotton
(b) Rice
(c) Sugarcane
(d) Wheat
Answer: (b)