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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Why after years of criminal silence you are now breaking the ice : By Firdous Syed

Srinagar, Jan 8: Pro-freedom and pro-India divide apart, present Kashmiri political scenario is immersed in filth. The political class in Kashmir on the whole has stooped to an unimaginable low. The so called pro-freedom leadership has crossed all the limits of decency, Mr. Firdous Syed, in an article in Greater Kashmir (8/1/2011)

After maintaining a criminal silence for decades, Professor Abdul Ghani Butt has urged intellectuals to speak truth. “We should speak out who killed Abdul Ahad Wani, Mirwaiz Umar's and Bilal Gani Lone's father”. It is too late in the day to comment on the pangs of conscience of ‘wise’ professor as better late than never? Too little and too little, it will have hardly any affect on the appalling political conditions. There is always a motive behind a politician’s move. He never acts aimlessly.Prof. Ghani is an astute politician, why he raked up a controversy at this juncture? And after remaining silent all these years, why he suddenly has decided to go public?  The self professed moderate leaders were in near hibernation all these months of mayhem and unrest. It seems now they have closed their ranks and joined a cause to pin down and destroy for ever their worst political enemy? Has anyone smelt the blood: Syed Ali Geealni in spite of unprecedented public support has once again miserably failed to prove his mettle and carry forward the movement in a meaningful manner?

Even if the motives are sincere: truth should come out. People in all probability will suspect the intentions of the leaders asking the questions, particularly when the political skills moreover integrity of the moderates is suspected by the masses. Moreover what has been asked is almost known to the public. People may not speak openly but they know who killed Abdul Ahad Wani, Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone? It is also known, why these leaders or almost all politicians and other intellectuals got killed. Furthermore, the ever enthusiastic attitude of police administration to put Pakistan in a dock has very nearly destroyed the possibility of an objective debate. Particularly when Yasin Malik true to his whimsical style has already declared: “90 percent intellectuals work on the ‘government aid”. In such a dreadful environment of suspicion hardly anybody will stick his neck out and speak the truth?    

Truth is sacrosanct, it has to prevail. Had we not been cowards or hypocrites, whosoever killed Mirwaiz Farooq in 1990 should have the courage to own the killing. If late Mirwiaz as some sections still believe was anti movement, Mazar-e-Shudha should not have been his final resting place. Traitors and martyrs cannot share the same space. Not only this, it also gave rise to a culture of indiscriminate killings. Since militant organizations were not under obligation to publicly own their acts, they started bumping off their opponents at will. It took no time for the Mujahid’s to become merciless killers. Some innocents were even killed on the flimsy grounds just to settle the personnel scores. And then usual champions of religion enacted Sharia courts, deciding the fate of innocents these kangaroo courts began hanging people from the trees. Mirwaiz Farooq for that matter all other innocent civilian didn’t deserve to be killed ruthlessly. Mirwaiz  in real sense was a politician, like traditional politicians he too had his weaknesses as well as strengths. From my own experience I can safely vouch that he feared for his life. Few days before his death, Gulam Qadir Hagroo a senior peoples League activist wanted me to meet Mirwaiz, for some reasons meeting could not take place. The purpose of the meeting was to put Mirwaiz at ease--militants had nothing personal against him. I am not sure whether our meeting would have put Mirwiaiz’s anxieties at rest. Dozens of militant organizations and many more splinter groups were freely operating.

Mirwaiz Farooq’s death was a big jolt. It raises many questions. For that matter all the high profile killings of persons like Abdul Ahad Wani, Abdul Ahad Guru, Gulam Qadir Wani and Abdul Ghani Lone have given birth, to many new controversies? If Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Ahad Wani, Abdul Ahad Guru, and Abdul Ghani Lone were killed on the orders of ISI, why Mirwaiz, Yasin and Bilal Lone still considers Pakistan to be a friend? And if Hizab-ul-Mujahideen is the real culprit, how come killers and killed could co-exist all these years. How was it possible for Mirwaiz Umar, Yasin and Bilal to work together with Geelani?  It is a very bizarre situation wherein both killers and the victims are double-faced? Killers in order to cover-up their crime are  compelled to hide behind a veil of secrecy. Why the self appointed political heirs of the killed knowing well the faces behind the veil  failed so far to unmask the assassins of Abdul Ahad Wani, Abdul Ahad Guru, Gulam Qadir Wani and Abdul Ghani Lone and numerous other innocents?     

It is not easy to answer all these questions. The truth is buried deep under the mystery. Rather than revealing the truth after uncovering the upper layer, the whole affair gets messier. Let us for a while accept that Mirwaiz Farooq was killed on the orders of a militant commander, shall we assume that the high command of that outfit after due deliberations ordered the killing? Stretching further the imagination, shall this also be concluded that assassination was carried out on the direct instructions of ISI?  Perhaps Mirwaiz’s murder was a rogue act of a splinter group believing in holier-than-thou attitude, not an organizational operation. In such an unpredictability and uncertainty, no concrete conclusions can be drawn.

Most of the civilian killings, (other than the killed by Indian forces) some indeed were ordered from the top and even from across the border, are individual acts or carried due to the local considerations by the junior commanders.  Innocent bloodshed is the main reason for the failure of the militant movement. It destroyed the moral basis and removed the distinction of a suppressed and a suppressor, ultimately leading to the erosion of overwhelming public support. Had APHC leaders been the free agents, they could have taken a courageous stand against the innocent killing when it mattered, it could have put brakes on the wanton killings and not allowed the movement to go astray. Crying wolf after two decades will only muddy the waters and fuel the raging fires of distrust and acrimony in the society.

Is it not an irony, if Mirwaiz could have escaped the death until the formation of APHC, he would have become the founder Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference? Ideological neatness is not the high point of this movement. Here a killer can be portrayed as messiah and a patriot as a traitor. It simply depends on the configuration of the time and political expediency.  More than the mercenary culture of the APHC leader’s, ideological bankruptcy of the present movement is the real reason for the doom.  Nationalists here are not true nationalists and people claiming to be the champions of the religion are the most horrible and ideologically barren. Respective ideological positions are subject to convenience rather based upon any conviction, the main reason for the prevailing ideological confusion. But if we are convinced that leaders are mercenaries, why do we expect them to be the torch bearers of any ideology.
Writer can be reached at: firdoussyed@yahoo.com


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) plants sale in India


Family: Ginkgoaceae
English : Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo, Kew tree, Fossil tree, Temple tree.
Urdu : Pankha Plant
Kashmiri : Aziz tree
(Plant dedicated to  Shaheed -e-Azemat 
(Martyr of  Determination) Sheikh Abdul Aziz )
Hindi : Balkuwari
Arabic: Mabad ag
Botanical Information : Ginkgo biloba L., commonly called ginkgo or maidenhair tree, is a long-lived, deciduous, shade tree from China  that can reach a mature height over one hundred feet and is the only genus and species of the Ginkgoaceae family existing today. Know for its three-inch wide, fan-shaped leaves that turn golden yellow in autumn, the ginkgo tree can be found also It is found in  Kashmir , Gilgat, IRAN, Afghanistan and North Americaand is one of oldest species of trees in existence today. Individual ginkgo trees have been known to live as long as 1,000 years. The trees, which are dioecious (bearing male flowers on one tree and female flowers on another), may not flower until they are twenty to thirty years old. The female trees produce a one to one-half-inch, plum-shaped, orange fruit. It is the leaves that are harvested for medicinal purposes.

The Jammu Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre has launched Ginkgo Project  for propagation of Ginkgo saplings and during current plantation season and 13373 saplings are available for distribution.

Director of this institution said that anybody who is interested in plantation of Ginkgo  tree can contact the concerned Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre and obtain Ginkgo plants.

Description of the plant :
Plant : Deciduous Tree
Height : 30 m (98 feet)
Flovering : April to May
Scent : Scented Tree

Bioactive Components :
The main bioactive components of ginkgo leaves are flavonoids, biflavonoides, proanthocyanidins, and triactonic diterpenes, which include the ginkgolides A, B & C. Ginkgolide B has been shown to inhibit platelets in the blood from coagulating. The flavonoids in ginkgo have demonstrated very strong antioxidant effects.

Uses and Treatments :
Ginkgo has been used for medicinal purposes for almost 5,000 years. In Chinese traditional medicine, it is used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and various brain disorders. In Asia, the seeds of the ginkgo tree are used to aid digestion and to reduce the intoxicating effects of alcohol. In Europe and North America, ginkgo extract is used for the treatment of circulatory problems, immune system dysfunction and cognitive disorders, including memory loss. There are currently no approved treatments involving the use of ginkgo extracts in North America. However, the FDA regards ginkgo extracts as "probably safe". Germany's
Commission E. has approved ginkgo extract for the treatment of intermittent claudication, vascular vertigo, and vascular tinnitus.  Some of the uses of ginkgo are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Modern and traditional uses of Ginkgo biloba.
Modern Uses Traditional/Folk Uses
- Loss of cognitive ability - Brain disorders
- Poor circulation - Asthma and bronchitis
- Vision and hearing problems - Increase life span and sexual potency

Site Selection : Ginkgo grows best in deep, moist, sandy soil and prefers full to partial sun in zones four to eight. It will tolerate poor and compacted soils except permanently wet soils. Ginkgo will grow in a wide range of soil pH and can tolerate heat and drought once the trees get established. For a tree crop, preparation of the soil is just as important as a field crop.

Planting : Propagation can be done by seed, cuttings, or grafting. Cuttings are the preferred method of propagating ginkgo to assure planting of only male flowering trees. Seeds can be planted in the spring or fall. Tim Blakley, co-author of Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field, and Marketplace, recommends stratifying the seed for four to six weeks if planting in the spring. Blakley sows his ginkgo seeds in one to five gallon pots, then transplants seedlings to the field, spacing them ten to twenty feet apart. Mulching the plants will keep weeds down. Ginkgo can grow twelve to eighteen inches a year. Blakley states the trees should reach a height of six to eight feet before beginning to harvest.

Insects and Diseases : Ginkgo trees have developed an amazing resistance to disease and pests. The Index of Plant Diseases in the United States lists the following diseases for Ginkgo biloba: leaf spots, Glomerella cingulata (anthracnose) and Phyllosticta gingko; sapwood or wound rot, Fomes conatus, Oxyporus populinus, and Polyporus spp. (sometimes found on living trees following injuries); root knot nematodes, Heterodera marioni and Meloidogyne sp.; root rot, Phymatotrichum omnivorum; and a seed rot, Xylaria longeana.

Harvesting, Cleaning, and Drying : The leaves from a ginkgo tree are harvested in fall, as the leaves are turning yellow. Blakley’s method of harvesting is to cut the branches with pruning shears, and then pull the leaves off of the branches. He recommends placing the leaves on racks in a dryer designed for herbs, and turning the leaves several times during the drying process to avoid matting. Ed Fletcher, Strategic Sourcing, Inc, suggests setting the dryer temperature at 105o-110oF. Drying time averages from twelve to fourteen hours but may increase or decrease depending on the humidity in the air. When adequately dried, the leaves should have a crinkly andcrumbly feel. Fletcher states that there should be no flexibility in the leaf without breaking. When the midrib is dry, the leaf will also be dry. Package the dried leaves in woven poly bags that are light proof or in corrugated boxes, and store in a cool, dry, dark location.

Annual Consumption and Dollar Value. In 2001, between 4.5 million pounds and 5.1 million pounds of dried ginkgo leaves were consumed. This was 34% higher than the amount in 1997 and about 5% higher than the amount in 2000. The dollar value in 2001 was about $25 million, which was 40% greater than the dollar value in 1997.

Supply and Demand : Historically, positive clinical support propels demand for this botanical. Clinical trials are being done on Ginkgo biloba as a treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease. An aging population base in North America and Europe has increased demand, due to ginkgo’s antiaging actions. European functional food manufacturers are also incorporating this material into more nutritional supplements and beverages.

Supply and demand for ginkgo has reached equilibrium with a very stable market. Supplies come almost exclusively from large-scale cultivation. Large-scale cultivation is occurring worldwide. A small number of growers produce over 95% of the world’s supply. Large commercial plantations exist in South Carolina (US), Japan, Korea, France and China. Sumter County, South Carolina, is home to the largest ginkgo plantation in North America. Since the supply of ginkgo comes exclusively from cultivated sources, little variation exists in bioactive components among individual harvests. Customers are primarily concerned with a lack of chemical residue on the material. Typical bioactive percentages are 24% ginkgo flavoglycosides and 6% terpene lactones.

Distribution Channels :
Distribution channels for ginkgo are highly structured. The maturity of this market has resulted in all material flowing through large, vertically integrated companies. Most organizations are located in Europe and draw on imported raw material sources from all over the world.

Where available in :
Contact person : Sheikh Gulzaar (Head)
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
Ph: 01933-223705
Mob: 09858986794

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

UN urged to implement its resolutions on Kashmir

Srinagar, January 5 : Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over observed the Right to Self-determination Day, today, to remind the international community that the UN resolutions on Kashmir remained unimplemented even after the passage of more than six decades.

On this day in 1949, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution, acknowledging Kashmiris’ right of self-determination and giving them the right to decide their future by themselves.

Addressing a seminar in Srinagar, today, the speakers said that the people of Kashmir had been facing the worst form of state terrorism due to the non-implementation of the UN resolutions. The speakers including Syed Ali Gilani, Dr Javed Iqbal, Zaheeruddin, Professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain, Z G Muhammad and Riaz Masroor said that the Kashmiris had been rendering unparalleled sacrifices to secure their right to self-determination. They said that the World Body should recognise its responsibility and come forward to implement its resolutions on Kashmir.

APHC leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, Ghulam Ahmed Mir addressing a session of his party activists in Jammu said that the UN resolutions on Kashmir were still as much relevant as they were six decades back when they were adopted.

Meanwhile, the speakers at a seminar in Islamabad organised by the APHC-AJK deplored that the United Nations had not been able to give effect to its resolutions to hold plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. A resolution passed on the occasion asked the world community to impress upon India to settle the dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

In London, the Executive Director of Kashmir Centre, Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl in a statement pointed out that permanent peace was not possible in South Asia till the Kashmir dispute remained unresolved.

Abdul Gani Bhat’s Remark

Dear Mr Sheikh Gulzaar Sahib,



This is in response to the news, ‘Mirwaiz admits 3 yr stir lacked direction.  Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat has added to his stature by telling the truth about the people who killed  Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.

If he had uttered these words many years ago Kashmir valley would have been saved from a lot of death and destruction. The separatists should admit the mistakes and follies committed by them. Nothing can be won by falsehood and it is better to call a spade a spade, the sooner the better as Prof. Bhat has done. Honesty can lead to a solution to Kashmir.

Johan Simith
e-mail: johansimith@sify.com
Mumbai-India

Yaseen Malik dares BJP, says won’t allow flag-hoisting in Lal Chowk


Srinagar, Jan 05: Terming United Nations a ‘failed Institution’, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Tuesday said his party cannot expect much from the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Meanwhile, JKLF chief, Muhammad Yasin Malik has dared BJP to hoist tri-colour at Lal Chowk on January 26. The senior separatist leaders were speaking at a seminar ‘United Nations Resolutions-

Don’t push Kashmiris to violence again : ‘UN Has Failed In Kashmir, Appointment Of Interlocutors Futile’



Srinagar, Jan 5: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Tuesday warned that Kashmiris will be again forced to take to violence if India continues with its “oppressive” policies to suppress the ongoing movement for right to self-determination and delays resolution of the Kashmir dispute, reports Greater Kashmir

Mirwaiz proposed a resolution at the seminar in which he castigated the United Nations for failing to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and declared Kashmiris as ‘masters of their destiny’ maintaining they will on their own decide the future of Kashmir. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

Addressing a seminar ‘UN resolutions—the legal foundation of disputed nature of Kashmir’ at Hurriyat office Rajbagh here, Mirwaiz said the delay in implementation of the resolutions was taking a heavy toll on the Kashmiris.

On January 5, 1948, the UN had passed a resolution noting that both India and Pakistan had accepted that the question of accession of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of free and impartial plebiscite.

“By virtue of UN resolutions, the Kashmir dispute has achieved international dimensions. The resolutions have made the case of Kashmiris strong. Ironically, the UN which projects itself as a credible institution has failed to implement its own resolutions. The UN as a failed institution should be disbanded,” Mirwaiz said.

Mirwaiz however maintained that whether India or Pakistan will accept or disapprove the UN resolutions, Kashmiris will remain committed to achieve the right to self-determination. “We won’t let the sacrifices rendered by Kashmir in past over six decades go waste. On the eve of January 5, when the UN passed the resolutions, we unanimously pass a resolution that Kashmiris are masters of their destiny who will on their own decide the future of Kashmir,” he said.

Terming the appointment of interlocutors and formation of working groups as a futile exercise, Mirwaiz said the writing on the wall is clear for India. “If India tries to suppress Kashmiris movement for right to self-determination, they will be forced to again take to violent recourse to achieve their goal. I want to maintain that there is no rule of law or accountability in Kashmir. The troopers and police are killing innocent at their will and whim. Kashmir has been turned into a military and police state. Ironically, the international community including the UN Human Rights Commission has maintained a criminal silence over the killing spree in the Valley.” he said.

Mirwaiz underscored the need for building consensus between pro-freedom parties to jointly take the movement to its logical conclusion.

Stating that India and Pakistan can’t thrust solution to the dispute, Mirwaiz said the conglomerate had been supporting the dialogue process but it failed to make any headway. “Despite being a primary party to the dispute Kashmiris have been kept away from the dialogue process. As a result the process has not yielded any result. Need of the hour is to streamline the dialogue process and make it time-bound on the pattern of dispute in middle-east and other countries,” he said.

Defending the conglomerate’s support to former Pakistani President General Pervez Musharaf’s  four-point formula on Kashmir, Mirwaiz said it was an internal arrangement and not a permanent solution. “Even Musharaf has maintained that the formula was a temporary arrangement for 5-6 years and ultimately the people of Kashmir had to themselves resolve it. We also believe that before the final settlement of the dispute, confidence building measures have to be taken,” he said.

However in the same breath, Mirwaiz accused India of taking Confidence Building Measures to hoodwink the international community. “The cross-LOC trade has been a glaring example of India’s non-seriousness. The CBM which was aimed at restoring trade links between Kashmirs, has turned out to be a mere public relation exercise. In absence of banking, communication and facilities how is the cross-LoC trade possible? India is trying to control everything in Kashmir, from governance to bus service from New Delhi,” he said.

Mirwaiz minced no words in accusing India of hatching a conspiracy to defame the ongoing movement. “Kashmiris have rendered over one lakh sacrifices for the indigenous movement. But India is leaving no stone unturned to defame our sacred movement by saying it is aided and funded. There are more Indian troopers in Kashmir than their NATO counterparts in Afghanistan. Still the alienation of Kashmiris has taken the shape of hatred.”

He said in the survey conducted by Times of India and Jang Group under their Aaman Ki Aasha campaign 70 percent of people of India and Pakistan have maintained that the two countries can’t improve their relations without resolving Kashmir.
“It is high time for India to come out of its denial mode and accept the ground reality in Kashmir,” he said.

‘Paradise lost’
The senior leader of Hurriyat (M), Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, in his typical style termed Kashmir as a paradise which has been turned into a hell.

“India became free on August 14, 1947 but it draped the paradise in its autocratic rule. Till August 15 and 16 Maharaja (Hari Singh) had not taken any decision to decide the future of Kashmir. He was neither with India or Pakistan but wanted to maintain status-quo. On October 26, Maharaja acceded to India and its troopers landed in Kashmir,” he said.

Referring to VP Menon, a senior official of India instrumental in accession of Kashmir, Prof Bhat said in his book ‘Freedom at Midnight’ he had written that “the bastard (Maharaja) has done it. We have it (Kashmir) and we will not let it go.” “This exposes the motives of India. The matter was taken by India to UN, which facilitated truce and passed resolutions giving right to self-determination to Kashmiris,” he said.

Prof Bhat said aim of the seminar is that Kashmiris are prime party to the dispute. “The UN resolution provided legal foundation to the dispute. But Kashmiris were never given the right to self-determination despite wars between India and Pakistan. We want to maintain that Kashmiris are the rulers of Kashmir and they will decide its future,” he said.

‘SHOW SERIOUSNESS’
The senior leader of Hurriyat (M) and chairman of National Front, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, underscored the need of showing seriousness as a nation to achieve right to self-determination.

“India has been trying to suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris by guns. Our movement has transcended from 20th to 21st century. Despite formation of graveyards across the Valley, Kashmiris are fighting with great resolve. The so-called democracy India is doing every undemocratic thing to quell the voice of Kashmiris,” Khan said.

Khan said many teenagers and youth in Pattan, Sopur and Varmul have lost their eye-sight after being hit by pellets by the CRPF during the summer unrest. “This is just a glimpse of so-called democracy. Kashmiris are being selectively killed. When eight people were killed in Humhama no action was taken against the accused cops and troopers, while following the killing of a youth in Mendhar Poonch the DGP and IGP rushed to the spot and suspended the accused cops including SHO,” he said.
Khan maintained that Kashmiris are the prime party to the dispute by virtue of their sacrifices. “Need of the hour is to show seriousness as a nation to achieve our goal. We need to accommodate every voice whether they are for independent Kashmir or merger with Pakistan,” Khan added.

‘FORM PARALLEL BODY’
Hurriyat leader Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam read the paper of Patron Mahaz-e-Azadi, M Azam Inquilabi, who could not make it to the seminar due to illness.

Before the speech, Shahid said he was feeling privileged to read Azam’s paper as he was his teacher when he started his political career in 1984.

In his paper, Azam castigated the UN for failing to implement its resolutions on Kashmir. “We have every right to grumble against the inaction, passivity and in fact dereliction of this world body in reference to its resolutions. Delhi did everything possible to obfuscate the Kashmir issue notwithstanding the promise and pledge of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to facilitate free and fair referendum in Kashmir to decide its political future,” Azam stated.

He said some pacifist and altruistic global leaders were thinking to launch a parallel world body to thwart the trend of UN collapse. “It will become indispensably paramount proposition for futuristic global politics to address all the longstanding disputes like Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said.

‘LANDING OF TROOPS ILLEGAL’
 Noted columnist Dr Javid Iqbal threw light on the controversies and legality of instrument of accession. “Some writers say that VP Menon who had to get the instrument of accession signed by Maharaja, did not reach Jammu on October 26. By virtue of this argument even if the instrument of accession was signed later, the landing of Indian troopers in Kashmir was totally illegal,” Iqbal said.

He said India manipulated the accession of some Muslim dominated areas of Gurdaspur to facilitate construction of a corridor to Kashmir. “The UN resolutions demanded demilitarization of the State to which India did not agree. At some places Pakistan also showed reluctance,” he said.

He termed the appointment of interlocutors as a futile process saying they can only recommended not take decisions. “When everything is clear and majority of people in Kashmir want right to self-determination, the job of interlocutors becomes redundant,” he said.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

300cr fall likely in floriculture exports by 2010

New Delhi: India’s floriculture exports are likely to grow to Rs700 crore by end of 2010 against projected level of Rs1000 crore. The shortfall in target is because of bottlenecks like poor infrastructure and plant material, production technology and availability of basic inputs along with insufficient cold storage facilities, REPORTS (livemint.com)

According to Assocham, poor infrastructure facilities and inadequate push from government, has led to domestic floriculture exports not rising to expected standards. Like, the value of exports of floriculture products from India was Rs212,70 crore in 2004-05 which went up to Rs305 crore in 2005-06 and further escalated at Rs390 crore in previous fiscal.

In 2007-08, exports are likely to be around Rs500 crore which by 2010 can go up to Rs700 crore against targeted levels of Rs1000 crore.

Although five agri-export zones have been set up in Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Karnataka which contribute 75% of flori production, export quality floriculture is still missing. Resultantly, India’s contribution to world flower trade of about $12 billion (Rs480crore) remains way below its potential.

Besides, setting up of cold storage and cargo handling facilities at key airports like New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Trivandrum and Coachin are still under active consideration of the Government and prove to be inadequate to take floriculture exports to the desired direction.

Recommendations :
* If India has to achieve the ambitious export target of Rs1000 crore by 2010 key issues need to be addressed: economies of scale, product range, incorporation of latest varieties and quality control and certification and creation of effective cold chain management.

* Bottlenecks like inadequate infrastructure, inappropriate plant material and good production technology and non-availability of basic inputs would have to be removed and promotion activities of flori products exports would have to be taken up.

* For boosting its floriculture export, India should go in for potential export items like cut flowers, dry flowers, seeds potted plants and micropropagated plantlets. Intensive mobilization of resources should be left on those that are engaged in such exports with financial institutions allowed to come forward for flori exporters.

*Efforts like setting up the export promotion council, establishing appropriate marketing and distribution channels, abolishing import duty on inputs and reducing existing airfreight tariff structures are needed to promote flori export particularly to countries like Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.

Indian scenario

In India,floriculture industry comprises flower trade, production of nursery plants and potted plants, seed and bulb production, micro propagation and extraction of essential oils. Though the annual domestic demand for the flowers is growing at a rate of over 25% and international demand at around Rs90,000 crore, India’s share in the international market is negligible.

With enormous genetic diversity,a varied agro climatic condition and versatile human resources, India can tap its huge floriculture reserves.

As per estimates, the per capita consumption of flowers is the maximum in Norway ($146) followed by Switzerland ($126) and Germany ($88), though the maximum consumption of flowers is in the USA ($12,500 million), Japan ($5465 million) and Italy ($4270 million).

Though floriculture industry has been the monopoly of a few countries (mainly Netherlands), the largest trader of floricultural products, with a lion’s share of 70% followed by Columbia and Israel with 12% and 6% share of the global floriculture trade.

Opportunities :With production in traditionally strong markets (Netherlands and US) have reached threshold levels, developing countries like Columbia, Israel, South Africa and Kenya have emerged as new production centres. Most flowers are grown under protected conditions in covered structures like green houses and poly/glass houses in European and other countries. Due to intense cold, high energy cost, production in these countries is limited during winter months. Thus they have to depend largely on imports to meet their domestic demand as most of the festivals fall during this period when the demand of flowers is at its peak.

Against this backdrop India which currently has only 0.3% share of the world market with export of around $30 million, it has a strong chance of entering the market and creating a strong position for itself. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre (JKMPIC) set-up in January 1996 in Srinagar has the primary mandate of coordinating all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programmes for growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation and introduction of new plants  

For more details: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
Ph: 09858986794
Contact person : Sheikh GULZAAR (Head)

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Police arrested 5 ex-HM militants in Pampore

Pampore, January 3: Family members of Muhamad Maqbool Dar who were kidnapped by Hizbul militants in 1995 claimed that a human skeleton that police recovered from a house here on Sunday was of the missing youth. Police arrested 5 ex-militants of Hizbul in connection with killing of Mohd. Maqbool Dar.
After recovering it from a migrant Kashmiri Pandit’s house here, skeleton has been sent for forensic examination while police has initiated investigation into the family claims.

Police recovered it from a house in Ladoo village of Batpora area after a local, who had purchased the house, spotted it.

“The house was gutted in a fire incident in 1992 and it was purchased by a local who was now reconstructing it. During earth excavation, a human-skeleton was recovered from the debris of the house,” said a police official. The locals said that the skeleton was recovered from the storeroom of the house.

After the news spread, the family members of Muhamad Maqbool Dar alias Bulla, who was allegedly picked up by Hizbul Mujahideen militants in 1995, claimed that the skeleton was his.

Speaking to Writer-South Asia, Maqbool’s family members said, “Maqbool’s elder brother, Muhammad Yaseen Dar who was the one of the top commander of Al-Umar-Mujahideen was killed by the forces in a gun-battle in 1994. Later, in 1995, Maqbool was picked up by the  Hizbul Mujaheeden militants and went missing.”

They said Maqbool was putting on the same clothes and shoes which were recovered from the spot today.

“Even the amulet and the black head band he often used to wear, that were found from the spot belonged to Maqbool,” they said.

The family members demanded a thorough probe into the case. When contacted, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Shafqat Ahmad Watali, while confirming that police recovered the skeleton said, “Yes we have recovered a human-skeleton which was later identified by the family. We have sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for scientific examination and are waiting for the report.”

He assured a probe into the issue. “A special investigating team headed by SDPO, Awantipora will be constituted and a transparent investigation would be carried out.  We will go by the version of the family and will also take the locals along,” Watali said.

Security in Sistan-Balouchestan to be handed over to locals: IRGC chief

http://jkmpic.blogspot.com
TEHRAN – Iran has taken necessary measures to establish and promote security in southeast Iran, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said on Saturday, reports Tehran Times.

“Security is important for the development of infrastructure in the region and we have taken measures in cooperation with people, specially tribes and ethnic groups in southeast of the country,” Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said during his trip to Zahedan, the capital city of Sistan-Balouchestan province.

According to the directives issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the security affairs of the region will be handed over to the people of the area, the top commander announced.

He went on to say that the enemy is trying to hinder the progress of the region through creating insecurity, sowing discord between the ethnic people, kidnapping, committing robbery and banditry.

The area has also experienced several terrorist acts during the past years. On December 15 a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a mosque in the southeastern city of Chabahar during a Shia religious ceremony, killing 35 people and injuring more than 100 others.

The members of the terrorist group Jundullah use Pakistan’s soil as their safe haven for committing terrorist attacks in Sistan-Baluchestan (Writer-South Asia)