J&K gardens bring in Rs 56.4 Cr in 5 years, floriculture blooms as economic asset

Srinagar, Jul 18: Jammu and Kashmir’s floriculture sector is quietly emerging as a remarkable economic story, with public gardens and parks generating over Rs 56.4 crore in revenue over the past five years. What was once seen merely as a seasonal tourist attraction has steadily grown into a consistent source of income for the government, playing an increasingly vital role in the region’s tourism economy, employment landscape, and urban aesthetics.

Official data from the Department of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks reflects this transformation. In 2020–21, total earnings from garden-related sources—including entry tickets, photography and videography permissions, and the sale of plant material—stood at Rs 2.49 crore. The following year, revenue rose to Rs 6.70 crore. In 2022–23, the upward trend continued with a sharp spike, as 60.48 lakh people visited the gardens across Jammu and Kashmir, contributing Rs 13.46 crore. By 2023–24, the number of visitors had increased to 65.74 lakh, pushing the annual revenue to Rs 14.35 crore. In the current financial year, 2024–25, the growth remains strong. Between April and November 2024 alone, the department has already earned Rs 19.40 crore from 61.38 lakh visitors, signalling a potential all-time high by year-end.

Officials attribute this consistent growth to a combination of improved infrastructure, focused maintenance, better visitor services, and a broader interest among tourists, content creators, and event planners.

“Our gardens are evolving into economic assets, not just visual landmarks,” said a senior official in the Floriculture Department. “They now support tourism, generate employment, and benefit local businesses through the flower trade and sale of ornamental plants.”

Jammu and Kashmir has a total of 276 gardens and parks spread across more than 10,620 kanals of land. The Kashmir division alone accounts for 211 of these green spaces, covering 8,629 kanals, while 65 are maintained in the Jammu region over 1,970 kanals. Iconic sites such as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden—the largest of its kind in Asia—and the eight celebrated Mughal gardens including Nishat, Shalimar, Pari Mahal, Verinag, Achabal, and Dara Shikoh Garden continue to be major tourist magnets. In Jammu, Bagh-e-Bahu and Bhor Camp Garden draw large crowds, especially during festival seasons and holidays.

Beyond public access gardens, the department maintains several important botanical gardens like NMBG Cheshmashahi and Kokernag, as well as manicured lawns and green spaces around high-profile government buildings such as the Raj Bhawan, New Secretariat, High Court, and VIP residences. These installations, while not directly revenue-generating in the conventional sense, add to the aesthetic and ecological value of urban centres and remain integral to the UT’s visual identity.

Parallel to this is the rapid rise of commercial floriculture in the Union Territory. Despite a notable decline in the area under flower cultivation—from 266.67 hectares in 2023–24 to 140.21 hectares this year—the income from flower farming has nearly doubled. In 2023–24, commercial floriculture earned Rs 19.42 crore. By November 2024, the figure had already jumped to Rs 34.78 crore, marking a staggering 79 percent increase. Officials say this reflects a shift toward high-value cultivation practices. Farmers, they note, are increasingly adopting better-quality flower varieties, modern techniques, and expanding their access to regional and national markets. “The commercial floriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir is showing both resilience and adaptability,” said another official. “Growers are moving beyond volume and focusing on quality, branding, and value addition.”

The government’s focused push—through incentives for growers, flower festivals, beautification projects, and closer collaboration with tourism and cultural departments—has helped revive interest in a sector once seen as peripheral. Gardens are now not just scenic stops for tourists but are being increasingly used as venues for exhibitions, weddings, and film shoots, creating multiple streams of income and employment.