A training programme in Heliconia bouquet making and tropical flower arrangement in Sri Vijaya Puram focused on cultivation, value addition and potential livelihood applications of the ornamental crop in the islands.
The one-day programme was organised by the State Hub for Empowerment of Women (SHEW), Directorate of Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture at the Agriculture Training Hall, Goalghar.
The Director (Agriculture) highlighted the islands’ favourable agro-climatic conditions and outlined the potential of Heliconia as a commercially viable ornamental crop. The programme identified local markets, tourism, floral decoration and value-added enterprises as areas where the crop could have commercial applications.
The technical component included a presentation by Dr. Nitu Sindhu, State Mission Coordinator, SHEW, on ‘Opportunities in Heliconia Cultivation and Value Addition’. The session focused on cultivation-related opportunities and ways of adding value to Heliconia.
The programme also included a practical demonstration of flower arrangement and bouquet making. Bhanumati, a farmer and florist, conducted the live demonstration, showing participants the techniques involved in creating floral arrangements and bouquets.
The training combined information on the cultivation and value-addition potential of Heliconia with practical exposure to its use in floral arrangements. It brought together the Social Welfare and Agriculture directorates for a programme focused on the ornamental crop and its possible applications in local markets, tourism, decoration and related value-added activities.
