Saying it with flowers has never been easier for Himachali farmers. No matter if the country of its origin lies well beyond the seven seas, to locals, the Inca Lily, a native of Peru, speaks a universally comprehensible language: of money.The high-value cash crop (Latin name: Alstroemeria aurea) is included in the top 10 commercially important cut flower varieties of the world because of its diverse colours, low energy consumption, round-the-year flowering and long vase life. Dwarf varieties of the flower offer premium potential as an indoor plant.‘‘The Alstoemeria has the chance to do very well in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh,’’ says Y D Sharma, professor and head of the department of floriculture and landscaping at Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.The university is responsible for bridging the gap between Peru and Himachal Pradesh with the introduction of this flower. Convinced that the commercial prospects justified the experiment and encouraged by the trial runs in research stations, the scientists urged horticulturists in Solan, Shimla, Mandi, Kullu and Rajgarh to cultivate five varieties of the cut flower.Since seed production is uncommon due to variability factors and long germination periods, the Inca Lily is conventially propogated by rhizome division. Tissue culture is also used for mass multiplication but, besides being expensive, bacterial contamination and the flower’s apical features make it difficult to start the cultures.‘‘Rhizome multiplication is the most suitable method of propagation in Himachal Pradesh,’’ says Sharma. ‘‘We are providing Inca Lily plants for Rs 40 to interested farmers, while in the international market each plant costs between Rs 400 and Rs 600.Uma Dutt, a progressive farmer in the Rajgarh sub-division of Sirmour district, who cultivates the Inca Lily in Matnali village, believes the deal is a steal. ‘‘One can get returns of Rs 1.5 lakh per bigha with this flower,’’ he told The Indian Express.
