SOA to Host First-Ever Flower Festival in Bhubaneswar on January 19–20

Bhubaneswar, January 13: The Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS), Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, is set to organize the first SOA Flower Festival on January 19 and 20, marking the celebration of International Flower Day.

The two-day festival will take place at the IAS campus, informed Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences. The event aims to promote floriculture, create awareness about scientific flower cultivation, and encourage farmers and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in the sector.

On the first day, the festival will showcase a vibrant exhibition of various flowers and creative floral arrangements. Several competitions related to flower display and decoration will also be organized to engage flower enthusiasts, farmers, entrepreneurs, and the general public.

The second day will feature a symposium focusing on modern and scientific practices in floriculture. The sessions will also provide insights into government incentives for flower cultivation, availability of bank loans, and emerging business opportunities in the floriculture sector. Experts in floriculture, officials from the Directorate of Horticulture, bank representatives, and entrepreneurs will participate in the symposium.

Highlighting the significance of the event, Prof. Sashikala Beura, Head of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping at IAS, said the festival is expected to attract flower lovers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and members of the public alike. She added that Odisha has around 10,000 hectares under flower cultivation, producing varieties such as rose, orchid, marigold, jasmine, chrysanthemum, tuberose, crossandra, and gerbera, many of which are exported.

Prof. Beura also noted that flower seed production has emerged as a profitable business in the state, owing to Odisha’s favorable geography, climate, and soil conditions, making it highly suitable for floriculture development.