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FLORICULTURE AS AN EMERGING TOOL FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: A

CASE STUDY OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Mr. Praveen Singh,

Research Scholar,

Department of Economics,

Himachal Pradesh University,

Summer Hill, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh-171005.

praveen.singh934@gmail.com +91-9261000901.

ABSTRACT

Flowers are always remained as an integral part of social fabric, since time immemorial.

Our society in various forms depends on the usage of flowers to perform our basic rituals.

Increase in the domestic demand for fresh-cut flowers and support from the state government

is encouraging women to take up flower cultivation on a commercial basis; floriculture

becomes the tool for women empowerment. The present paper examines the role of

floriculture in upliftment of women in Himachal Pradesh. The attempt was made to highlight

the inter-linkages of Women Empowerment, changing climatic conditions and economics of

floriculture along with major policy level initiatives for the development of this segment of

horticulture. The research studies indicate that women in India suffer due to unemployment.

Income is vital for women empowerment and very less avenues of income are available for

women in hilly state like Himachal Pradesh. In a nutshell, floriculture development works as

a means of sustainable livelihood and income generation for women in Himachal Pradesh.

Key Words: Flowers, women empowerment, economics and livelihood.

“If you economically empower a woman, she represents enormous opportunity that can

actually be transformative not only for her family and for her community, but at the

aggregate level for the economy.”

--------------- Sheryl WuDunn

1. INTRODUCTION

Flowers have always remained an integral part of the social fabric of human life due to its

essence and fragrance being essential on all social, cultural and religious functions of any

society since time immemorial.1 Floriculture is the ability and knowledge of growing flowers

and other floricultural products to excellence. It includes the cultivation of flowers and

ornamental crops from the time of planting to harvesting along with production of planting

materials through seeds, cuttings, budding, grafting and marketing of flowers and flower

produce.2

1 Francis Y, Kwong, and Mcdonald, B. Miller, “Flower seeds: Biology and Technology”, CABI publication, 2005pp. 357-361. 2reference--Source: National Portal Content Management Team, Reviewed on:08-02-2011

www.india.gov.in/citizen/agriculture/floriculture.php).

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The origin of flower and ornamental plant growing is contemporary with agricultural crops.

In the beginning their use was exclusively for aesthetic and religious purposes are celebrated,

using flowers in various ways3. References to this are found in ancient Sanskrit classics like

the Rig Veda (3000-2000 BC), Ramayana (1200-1300 BC), Mahabharata (prior to 4th

Century BC), Shudraka (100 BC), Ashvagodha (100 AD), Kalidasa (400 AD) and

Sarangdhara (1200 AD). Due to changes in life styles, living standards and increased urban

affluence; floriculture has gained commercial status in recent times. Along with that the

steady increase of population virtually has created huge domestic demand for floricultural

products in India as well as in the state4. Another reason is changes in seasons and global

warming, horticulture products are recording low production and productivity trends, which

further, reduce the revenue of the farmers. Thus, from last decade there is trend of shifting

cultivation in the hilly states like Himachal Pradesh. In this course of time Floriculture

emerges as the profession for whom the agro-climatic conditions are best suited in the state

and this state has added advantage in adopting this new branch of horticulture. The

commercial activity of floriculture products is foundation of profitable and excellence

employment opportunities to the people of hilly states like Himachal Pradesh5. Exports

business generates huge revenues from the market; consequently commercial floriculture has

emerged as scientific activity emerging under controlled climatic conditions6.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

The majority (68 percent) of India’s workforces relies on farming despite the fact that the

agriculture contribution to the gross domestic product has diminished from 38 percent in

1975 to 19 percent in 20077. The income generated by women primarily pay for the food and

basic needs while income from men usually goes for assets, luxuries and liquor. This

realization has led to the development of world’s initial strategy of promoting income

generating activities for women on a large scale8. But this did not fully succeed till the poor

rural women are not equipped with skills, education, and access to technologies, tools and

productive assets. Furthermore, they are burdened with household routine and care for the

family. As there are not enough employment opportunities for rural women, support for

3 K. R. Roy, “Floriculture boom in India”, Chronica Horticulture, a publication of the International Society for Horticultural

Science, Vol. 48, No.-2, 2008. 4 Narendra.K. Dadlani., “Cut Flower Production in India”, Division of Floriculture, Indian Agricultural Research Institute,

New Delhi, India, 2000. 5 Sharma, Sharmishtha. 2017. Women workforce in Floriculture. Dainik Bhaskar. Pp.10. 16th April, 2017. 6 Y.C. Gupta, “Floriculture Development in Himachal Pradesh”, Vidhanmala, Vol. IX,No. I, June, 2010. 7 Puri, A. (2007) ‘Grain drain- editorial’, India Today June 11, p. 3. 8 Boserup, E. (1989). Woman’s role in economic development. Earthscan Publications Ltd, London.

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women self-employment came to realizes women’s economic potential9. The potential of

floriculture as an industry has not been exploited properly in India. Floriculture is an

intensive type of agriculture & income per unit area from floriculture is much higher than any

other branch of agriculture10. Woman plays a significant and crucial role in agricultural

development, livestock production, horticulture, and floriculture post harvest operation, agro-

social forestry and fisheries etc. as a manager, decision maker and skilled farm worker from

preparatory stage to harvesting, storage and marketing of the flowers11

. In our country

females are 65% of the total workforce involve in the production of flowers. In the rural areas

maximum women are attached with this profession. Now days in the urban area, females are

also showing their interest to be a part of this profession and with this sector12

.

3. RESEARCH GAPS

At present, no comprehensive study seems to have been done in this field which shows any

inter-linkages between economics of floriculture and empowerment of women in Himachal

Pradesh with the perspective of Indian Diaspora; hence the study acquires more importance.

This study will make the people aware about the floricultural cultivation, its role in women

empowerment and also help them to generate more income and increase their standard of

living along with attracting the attention of Indian Diaspora.

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

4.1. To study the inter-temporal growth of floriculture in Himachal Pradesh.

4.2. To study the inter-linkages of floriculture and women empowerment in Himachal

Pradesh with the perspective of Indian Diaspora.

4.3. To highlights the government initiatives and role of Indian Diaspora for promotion of

floriculture in Himachal Pradesh.

5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research is analytical and exploratory in nature. Secondary data and case studies of the

states were collected from various sources. Tabular analysis has been extensively carried out.

6. CHANGING PATTERNS IN GLOBAL FLOWER CULTIVATION

Presently more than 170 countries are involved in the cultivation of floricultural crops.

However, during the past four decades floricultural crops cultivation has undergone

significant changes.

9 Kraus-Harper, U. (1998). From despondency to ambitions: women’s changing perceptions of self employment: cases from

India and other developing countries. Ashgate, Hants, UK. 10 Randhawa Gurucharan Singh and Amitabha Mukhopadhyay. Floriculture in India, Allied Publishers P Ltd, Mumbai, 1986. 11 Mankar. D. M. et al. 2013. Role performance of farm women engaged in floriculture. Karnataka J. Agric. Sci. 26 (1). pp. 161-163. 12 Sharma, Sharmishtha. 2017. Women workforce in Floriculture. Dainik Bhaskar. Pp. 10. 16th April, 2017.

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6.1 WORLD TRADE IN FLORICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Developed countries in

Europe, America, and

Asia account for more

than 90% of demand for

floricultural products.

Global exports have

been growing more than

10% annually13

. Though

the floriculture industry

has been the monopoly

of a few western

countries, mainly the

Netherlands, the largest trader of floricultural products, with a lion’s share of 52 % yet it is

followed by Colombia 15%, Ecuador 9%, Kenya 7%, Belgium 3%, Ethiopia 2% and Israel,

Germany, Italy and Malaysia are having 1% of

global market share in the cut flower export

sector14

. The share of India in this flourishing

trade Estimate at over US$ 40 billion per

annum is negligible at 0.4%.15

The

Netherlands has long been at the center of cut

flower production in the European floral

market. It also hosts the biggest flower market

in the world, that being the auction at

Aalsmeer. The cut flower industry has flourished and grown in Netherlands since the

1970’s16

.

6.2 FLORICULTURE IN INDIA

The liberalization of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export

oriented production of cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to

import planting material of international varieties.17

13 http://www.intracen.org/itc/sectors/floriculture/ 14 Ibid. 15 Y.C. Gupta, “Floriculture Development in Himachal Pradesh”, Vidhanmala, Vol. IX, No. I, June, 2010. 16 Ibid. 17 Booklets on, “Indian Agricultural Economics: Livestock Economics, Floriculture”, by IGNOU.

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According to statistics indicated in the Handbook on Horticulture Statistics 2014, the total

area under flower crops in 2012-13 was 232.70 thousand hectares. Total area under

floriculture in India is second largest in the world and only next to China. Production of

flowers was estimated to be 1729.2 MT of loose flowers and 76731.9 million (numbers) of

cut flowers in 2012-13. Fresh and Dried cut flowers dominate floriculture exports from India.

Among states, Karnataka is the leader in floriculture with about 29,700 hectares under

floriculture cultivation. Other major flower growing states are Tamil Nadu and Andhra

Pradesh in the South, West Bengal in the East, Maharashtra in the West and Rajasthan, Delhi

and Haryana in the North18

. Thus we can say that the floricultural industry is flourishing in

the country at a high speed and emerging as an important economic activity and foreign

exchange earner19

. India’s floriculture industry is growing at a compounded annual growth

rate of about 30%, and is likely to cross Rs 8,000 crore by 2015. Currently, the floriculture

industry in India is poised at about Rs 3,700 crore with a share of 0.61% in the global

floriculture industry which is likely to reach 0.89% by 201520

.

6.3 FLORICULTURE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh, popularly known as Dev Bhumi, located in North Western part of India

between latitude 300 22' 40" N to 33

0 12' 20"N and longitude 75

0 45' 55" E to 79

0 04' 20" E.

To the East, it form India’s border with Tibet, to the North lies state of J&K, Uttaranchal in

the South-East, Haryana in the South and Punjab in the West21

. Himachal Pradesh is endowed

with a wide range of agro-climatic conditions due to which a large number of horticultural

18 http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/farm-based-enterprises/floriculture 19 S. Prahalathan and Sumana Sarkar, “ Indian Floriculture Industry”, Research & planning group, 2oo9. 20 http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/farm-based-enterprises/floriculture 21 Manoj .Jreat, “Geography of Himachal Pradesh”, Indus Publishing Company , New Delhi in association with Institute of

Integrated Himalayan Studies, H.P. University, Shimla.2006. pp1.

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commodities like fruit crops, flowers, vegetables, mushrooms, hoops, tea, medicinal and

aromatic plants etc. are successfully grown.22

Table-1 Agro Climatic Zones for Floriculture in Himachal Pradesh

Zone description Elevation range

(Meters)

Rainfall

(cms)

Suitable Flower Crops

Low Hill and Valley Areas

near the plains

350 – 900 60 - 100 Gladiolus, Carnation Lilium, Marigold,

Chrysanthemum, Rose

Mid Hills (Sub Temperate) 900 – 1500 90 – 100 Carnation, Gladiolus, Lilium, Marigold,

Chrysanthemum, Alstroemeria, Rose

High Hills and Valleys in the

interiors (Temperate)

1500 – 2750 90 - 100 Gladiolus, Carnation Lilium, Marigold,

Chrysanthemum

Cold and Dry Zone

(Dry Temperate)

2750 – 3650 24 - 40 Seed/ Corm/ Bulb production

Source: State Department of Horticulture, Navbahar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Flowers from different agro climatic zones of the State can be made available all through the

year for domestic market, export quality flower produce can be ensured only by cultivation

under controlled environment conditions of greenhouses.23

6.4. COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Commercial floriculture started picking up in the State during VIII Five Year Plan Period.

Thereafter, exotic flowers like gladiolus, carnation, lilium, tulip, iris, chrysanthemum, calla

lily, etc. were introduced in the state from countries advanced in floriculture. As a result, area

under floriculture in the state was 30 hectares during 1992-9324

, which increased to 812.904

hectares on 31st March 2011 and some decrease in the area has been noticed in 2015-16 i.e.

719.05 hectares25

. The major flower growing districts in the State are Sirmaur, Kangra,

Mandi, Chamba, Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur and Kullu.26

In Himachal Pradesh, the per capita cultivated land is only 0.12 hectares while per capita

irrigated land is a meager 0.02 hectares. This situation necessitates a cropping pattern that

would ensure highest income per unit area/ labour/ investment.27

Commercial floriculture

perfectly caters to this necessity.28

The flower produce from the State is being sold in

domestic markets, the major consumption centres being Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow and

22 Hardeep.Thakur, “Dev Bhoomi Himachal Pradesh: Geography, History, Culture, Demography and Economy”,

Administrative History, J.M.D. publications, Shimla-5.2010.pp.76-77. 23 H.P, Singh, “Growing Floriculture Industry: Opportunities for India”, National Conference on Recent Trends and Future

Prospects in Floriculture, 5-8 March 2011, pp1-8. 24G.L.Kaul, and N.K .Dadlani,“ Prospects of Floriculture in India”, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of

Agriculture, Govt. of India, 1995. 25 Directorate of Horticulture, Navbahar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. 26Gorakh .Singh, “Floriculture Development in North East and Himalayan States”, Department of Agriculture &

Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi,2011. 27 Jag. Mohan,Balokhra, “The wonderland Himachal Pradesh; An Encyclopaedia on the state of Western Himalaya”,

Administrative History, H.G. Publications [India] New Delhi, 2009,pp603. 28 H.P, Singh, “Growing Floriculture Industry: Opportunities for India”, National Conference on Recent Trends and Future

Prospects in Floriculture, 5-8 March 2011, pp1-8.

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Amritsar.29

With the formation of associations/co-operatives/ federations of the flower

growers, exploitation of the grower has been curtailed to a certain extent and have proved that

cooperative marketing is a good solution to strengthen the marketing muscles of the

growers.30

7. INTER-TEMPORAL GROWTH OF FLORICULTURE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Table 2 shows that the area under production of different flowers. In 2015-16 the total area

under floriculture in Himachal Pradesh stands at 719.050 hectares. After a deep look into the

table-2, we can say that the area under different flowers crops in the state has been increasing

and it has shown great source of inspiration for the flower growers in the country. Sirmaur

district having the maximum area under floriculture i.e. 377.55 ha and out of this maximum

area (174.13 ha) is comes under the Chrysanthemum (Loose) flowers. After Sirmaur, Second

place is occupied by the Kangra District, which has 117.80 ha area under floriculture and

Marigold (43.63 ha) is the flower which is preferred in this district.

29 R.Chandra,“Agro-techniques for production of Cut Flowers Chrysanthemum”, Floriculture Today, June, 2011. 30 Y.C.Gupta,“Floriculture Development in Himachal Pradesh”, Vidhanmala, Vol. IX, No. I, June, 2010.

Potential

Flowers and

Foliage Plants

for Cultivation

in Himachal

Pradesh

Gladiolus

Carnation

Marigold

Daffodil

Chrysanth

emum

Lilium

Rose

Tulip

Gerbera

Antirrhinum

Flower

Seeds

Potted

Plants

Seasonal

Flowers

Other

Flowers

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Table-2: Districts Wise Area under Flower Crops in H.P. 2015-16 (Hectares)

Sr. No. Districts Gladiolus Carnation Marigold Lilium Alstro-

emeria Rose Gerbera

Chrysanth

emum

(Loose)

Chrysanth

emum

(Cut)

Seasonal

Flowers

Other

Flower

Flower

Seeds

Potted

Plants Total

1 Bilaspur 0.00 3.60 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.17 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.18

2 Chamba 0.95 1.00 10.56 1.00 0.02 3.50 0.02 4.00 0.65 13.37 3.15 0.00 2.30 40.52

3 Hamirpur 1.20 1.16 2.81 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.29

4 Kangra 2.90 2.50 43.63 4.10 0.00 11.70 2.90 0.00 3.43 21.20 15.20 0.00 10.24 117.80

5 Kullu 3.80 2.70 7.00 3.60 0.00 1.50 0.00 5.00 0.00 4.00 1.40 0.00 1.00 30.00

6 Kinnaur 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

7 L&S 1.50 0.00 0.60 2.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.40 5.00

8 Mandi 2.00 6.70 2.50 0.62 0.00 0.10 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 12.03

9 Shimla 0.59 2.91 6.00 0.15 0.00 0.40 0.00 1.00 16.05 3.50 2.00 0.00 3.50 36.10

10 Sirmaur 36.21 8.15 90.39 1.50 0.00 13.60 0.00 174.13 53.57 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 377.55

11 Solan 15.60 15.15 9.76 0.35 0.60 2.79 0.23 0.50 12.34 0.01 0.82 0.00 1.20 59.35

12 Una 1.00 0.20 6.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 1.03 6.00 0.00 3.00 5.00 3.00 4.00 31.23

Total 65.75 44.07 179.25 13.62 0.62 35.86 4.35 190.66 86.08 45.58 27.57 3.00 22.64 719.05

Source: Department of Horticulture, H.P. 2015-16.

Other flowers include Dahlia, Statice, Godetia, Tuberose, Amaryllis, Agapanthus, Nerene, Day Lily etc.

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Table -3: Area, Production and Productivity under different flower crops in Himachal Pradesh from 1993-94 to 2015-16

Year 1993-94 1995-96 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11 2015-16

Sr. No. Flower Crops A P Y A P Y A P Y A P Y A P Y A P Y

1 Gladiolus 18 -- 43.4 8,710,00 20069.124 74.11 11,116,500 150000 114.69 17,203,500 150000 177.604 34,632,780 195000 65.75 12,492,500 312.31

2 Carnation 3 -- 8.3 2,843,750 342620.48 9.49 7,117,500 750000 22.31 16,732,500 750000 73.76 71,916,000 975000 44.07 42,747,900 1,282.44

3 Marigold * 3.5 -- 7.95 406,250 51100.628 36.09 451,125 12500 237.84 2,973,000 12500 337.39 30,365,100 90000 179.25 15,774,000 2,366.10

4 Lilium 1 - 6.9 1,402,500 203260.87 5.85 1,754,880 299979.49 5.54 1,662,000 300000 8.72 1,962,000 225000 13.62 2,996,400 299.64

5 Daffodil -- -- 0.5 106,000 212000 1.16 245,920 212000 1.07 226,840 212000 3.52 1,056,000 300000 -- -- --

6 Rose* -- - -- --- 4.12 12,360 3000 13.73 41,202 3000.873 14.1 10,575,000 750000 0.62 26,715,700 1,068.63

7 Alsroemeria -- - -- --- -- -- 0.09 67,500 750000 35.86 461,900 9.24

8 Tulip -- - 0.5 312,500 625000 1.02 637,500 625000 0.06 37,500 625000 0.1 37,500 375000 -- -- --

9 Gerbera -- -- --- -- -- 2.02 2,424,000 1200000 4.35 5,220,000 208.80

10 Seasonal Flowers# 1 -- 1.65 165,000 100000 6.7 670,000 100000 8.46 845,800 99976.359 37.32 3,732,000 100000 45.58 4,558,000 --

11 Chrysanthemum 0.5 -- 0.8 125,000 156250 7.61 951,250 125000 46.14 5,767,250 124994.58 144.73 20,384,175 140842.776

12 Chrysanthemum

(2015-16(Cut)

This classification of Chrysanthemum in cut flowers and loose flowers is implemented from the 2011 onwards in Himachal Pradesh. 190.66 68,864,000 1,721.60

13 Chrysanthemum

(2015-16(Loose)

86.08 7,626,400 1,525.28

14 Flower seeds* 1.5 -- 4.55 750 164.835 4.1 615 150 4.09 614 150.122 1.22 183 150 3.00 450 4.50

15 Potted Plants 1.5 -- 2.45 197,500 80612.244 0.18 9,000 50000 6.91 345,500 50000 6.4 320,000 50000 22.64 1,132,000 452.80

16 Other Flowers^ -- -- -- 160,000 3.22 321,500 99844.72 6.14 614,000 100000 5.93 593,000 100000 27.57 2,757,000 --

Total 30 -- 76 53,12,250 +

407,000

153.64 2,28,36,410 +

4,51,740

466.98 4,34,76,092 +

29,73,614

812.904 719.050 159,498,400

(Nos.) +

23,400,400(Kg.)

9251.34

Source: Department of Horticulture, H.P. 2015-16.

* The Estimated Production of marigold and Flower Seeds in Kgs; the rest are in Numbers/Stems.

#Seasonal Flowers (Godetia, Aster, Statice, Gypsophylla etc.)

^Other Flowers (Narcissus, Iris, Tuberose, Amaryllis, Agapanthus, Nerene etc.)

Area- Hectares A-Area P-Production Y-Yield (Productivity)

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In table-3 are, production and productivity of the different flowers in the Himachal Pradesh

has been calucaled in the case of cut and loose flowers for different time intervals viz. from

1993-94 to 2015-16. From the above table it has been seen that area and production of

different flowers has shown the increasing trends. Marigold is a type of flower under which

the maximum area has been increased from 1993-94 till 31st March 2011 from 3.50 hectares

to 337.39 hectares. But in 2015-16 area under Chrysanthemum (Cut flowers) is more than

any other flower crop i.e. 190.66 ha with the production of 68,864,000 in nos. And revenue of

Rs. 1,721.60 lakhs. Nowadays new and hybird flowers has been introduced in the state to

increase the production of flower cultivation.

8. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR THE PROMOTION OF FLORICULTURE

Several significant initiatives have been taken in recent years by the Government of India and

Government of Himachal Pradesh in order to reverse the downward trend in agricultural and

Horticultural production including Floriculture. Some of these important initiatives include:-

National Horticultural Board (NHB) 31

National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development (NABARD)32

National Commission On Farmers

Research And Extension

Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

National Horticultural Mission (NHM)

Horti-Expos / Agri-Fairs / Flower Shows /Publications

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Back-Ended Subsidy Programmes

Watershed Development and Micro Irrigation Programmes.

Reforms in Agricultural Marketing and Development of Market Infrastructure.

Revitalisation of Cooperative Sector.

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001.33

Expansion of Institutional Credit to Farmers.

Establishment of the National Rainfed Area Authority.34

9. FIVE-YEAR PLAN (FYP)

India’s future planning for economic growth was initiated by the Parliament of India in 1951

through Five-Year Plans (FYPs) developed, executed and monitored by Planning

31 J.P.Negi, and B.Singh, “Role of NHB in promotion of commercial horticulture including floriculture”, Indian Horticulture

46(4):1, 26-28, 2002. 32 www.nabard.gov.in 33 www.expo-india.com 34 www.flowersofindia.com

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Commission. FYPs generally allocate budgets in different thrust areas.35

Currently the 12th

FYP is underway. Agriculture was constantly an essential sector but in the first three FYPs

the significance of horticulture was neglected until the 4th FYP (1969- 1974) when a sum of

Rs.34.78 million was allocated for this sector. During the 8th FYP horticulture including

floriculture was recognized as a thrust area for the development of infrastructure and research

and received Rs.1,047 million. In the 11th

FYP (2007-2012), an allocation of Rs.1,200 million

has been made.36

An annual growth rate of 5% in area and 10% in production of flowers are

achievable during X Plan.37

10. FLORICULTURE, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND INDIAN DIASPORA

Empowerment is a process of awareness and capacity building leading to greater

participation to greater decision making and control and to transformative action38. Women

empowerment is not a sufficient condition it is still a necessary condition in order to stabilize

and in turn to have sustainability of the development process39

. Women empowerment as a

matter of key concern in national and international policy making and activities of social life.

Nations cannot achieve their development goals if their women are discriminated40.

Floriculture is a labour-intensive activity, wage payment forming roughly one-third of the

costs of production. It indicates, that even a modest floriculture programme can generate

millions of jobs, predominately for young men and women, quite apart from significantly,

contributing to national income. By and large, women are engaged in cultivation, harvesting

and post harvesting activities including packaging, while men perform activities linked to

pre-cultivation, maintenance of nurseries, irrigation and fumigation since these involve hard

work and health and safety considerations. Employers consider it beneficial to engage

women except their fear from pregnancies, which have to be paid for by them.

11. INDIAN DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FROM THE INDIAN DISAPORA

Indian Diaspora has retained their emotional, cultural and spiritual links with the country of

their origin. This strikes a mutual chord in the hearts of people of India41

.Transnational

organizations formed by Indians have aimed at creating stable linkages between the adopted

35 planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/.../horticulture.pdf 36 G.D.Banerjee,“ Poised for a golden revolution”, Times Agricultural J. (Nov. - Dec.) 2002. 37 planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/.../horticulture.pdf 38 Sudharani, K., Sreelatha, Kishori, K. and Surendra, G., 2000, Empowerment of women in rural areas. Rural India, 195-198. 39 Labani Dey & S.A.H.Moinuddin. An Analysis on The Women Empowerment & its Major Determinants through the

Participation in Flower Vending Business with Special Reference to Kolaghat Flower Market, West Bengal.

http://ijsard.org/index.php/124-2/ 40 Khan, T.M. and Maan, A.A., 2008, Socio-cultural milieu of women’s Empowerment in the district Faisalabad. Pakistan

Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 45(3): 78-90. 41 Acharya. Darshana. 2016. Women empowerment reflected in Indian Diaspora novel The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri.

International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field ISSN – 2455-0620 Volume - 2, Issue - 12, pp. 175-

178.Dec – 2016.

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country and the land left behind. By focusing on economic development in India, such

organized efforts help to bolster a strong presence in India while at the same time

contributing to assimilation in the host country42

.

Under the Modi government, proactive outreach towards the diaspora has reached heights not

seen before. From Madison Square to Sydney, Suva to Dubai, his words have echoed a

singular sentiment43

. 15th

edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) from 7th

to 9th

January, 2017 is hoisted by Bangalore with the theme of “Refined Engagement with Indian

Diaspora” to attract

attention of Indian

Diaspora to invest

especially in the

upliftment of women 44

as India's diaspora

population is the largest

in the world with 16

million people from

India living outside their country in 2015, according to a latest UN survey on international

migrant trends45.

Indian Diaspora can make effort for development of on entrepreneurs among women

farmers. These are useful in empowering women and enabling them to break the barriers that

keep them from king advantages of commercial agriculture especially floriculture. The

women can easily tap this opportunity. Considering the potential of floriculture in generating

higher levels of income, employment opportunities, greater involvement of women farmers

and increase in exports, it has been identified as extreme focus area by the Government of

India thus, if NRIs invest in this sector it will push the women empowerment to the new

heights46

.To enable women take advantages of the developments in floriculture, it is

important to bring changes at various levels. They are at:

policy level (like provision of higher subsidy to women-owned farms)

field extension level

42 Agarwal. Rina. 2012. Tapping the Indian Diaspora for Indian Development. http://krieger.jhu.edu/sociology/wp-

content/uploads/sites/28/2012/02/Tapping-the-Indian-Diaspora-for-Indian-Development.pdf 43 http://www.thehindu.com/thread/politics-and-policy/article17012930.ece 44 http://www.mea.gov.in/pravasi-bharatiya-divas.htm 45 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/India-has-largest-diaspora-population-in-world-UN-report-

says/articleshow/50572695.cms 46 Sangh Sajjata & Villa Marutinandan (2008), “Towards Floriculture: Understanding Sector and Market”, Market Pulse

Knowledge Networks (P) Ltd., Ahmedabad380054.

13 | P a g e

women farmers level

While at the policy level it is a good idea to encourage women farmers by offering a higher

rate of subsidy especially where they are landowner. At the field level, to encourage women

farmers take up greenhouse, more of women extension workers need to be engaged to

transfer the information and knowledge to women farmers.

Tapping the Indian Diaspora for Indian Development though these efforts have been

significant at the local and state levels, they have been less so at the national level. Many

transnational organizations tap Diaspora wealth to raise funds for existing organizations in

India. Transnational efforts to promote socioeconomic development in India have met with

mixed success. Still others blame the Indian government for not being as successful as the

Chinese in facilitating Diaspora investments in the homeland47

.

12. STATE-LEVEL DEVELOPMENT FROM HOST TO HOME

At the national level, transnational support for socioeconomic and political development has

been relatively small, but at the state and local levels it appears to have been more effective.

Public officials in India have only recently begun to tap transnational organizations to benefit

their states. This is best exemplified by Chief Minister Modi of Gujarat. Although he was

famously denied an entry visa to the United States, he has intimately connected with the

Gujarati diaspora by shifting the focus from eliciting investments to fomenting cultural ties

and social contributions. He sends DVDs of Gujarati cultural programs and a personalized

letter to Gujarati organizations on their anniversaries. To encourage transnational

philanthropy from overseas Gujaratis, he published a book entitled ‘Vatan ni Sewa’ that

showcased projects funded by non-resident Gujaratis (NRGs). He has organized annual

conferences that are replete with symbolism and fanfare. Like these there are number of

associations i.e. The New York Gujarati Samaj; Telegu American organizations (from the

Indian state of Andhra Pradesh); American Telegu Association (ATA); Telegu Association of

North America (TANA); and The Telangana NRI Association (TeNA) just created for

tapping the Indian Diaspora for Indian Development48

.

13. CONCLUSION

Majority of the women had medium or low level of empowerment according to various

indicators like women’s household political participation, financial autonomy, freedom of

47 Zhu, Zhiqun. 2007. “Two Diasporas: Overseas Chinese and Non-resident Indians in Their Homelands’ Political

Economy.” Journal of Chinese Political Science 12(3): 281–96. 48

Agarwal. Rina. 2012. Tapping the Indian Diaspora for Indian Development. http://krieger.jhu.edu/sociology/wp-

content/uploads/sites/28/2012/02/Tapping-the-Indian-Diaspora-for-Indian-Development.pdf

14 | P a g e

movement, political participation, acceptance of unequal gender role, exposure to media,

access to education, and experience of domestic violence etc. and women who were

illiterate/ less educated were less empowered. Empowerment in woman’s development is a

way of defining, challenging and overcoming barriers in her life through which she increases

her ability to shape her life. Mindset of the Government, industry and trade today is much

better than ever before. The process of economic reforms initiated in July 1991 is continuing

with greater vigour and they are surely irreversible irrespective of the political philosophies

of the Government in power. Floricultural industry in the state being at a nascent stage of

development, there are a number of constraints. With proper policy framework by the

Government and involvement of India Diaspora in this process will be fortune for Himachal

Pradesh to harness the production potential and exploit the overseas market opportunities. By

a proper blend of policy support and incentives and facilities, our state can achieve the

heights in this particular business as well as the women empowerment, which will gave boom

to employment opportunities, revenue and income of the people of the state. For this

Transnational organizations serve as a bridge through which Indian Diaspora can influence

socioeconomic and political development in India as well as in the state. Their elite status

enables them to transfer financial resources, ideas, and practices to the homeland.

14. REFERENCES

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