State PCS - J & K (KAS)

• 04 Apr 2025

India’s Tulip Revolution

Why in News? 

Scientists in Kashmir have launched an ambitious project to indigenize tulip bulb production, aiming to make India self-reliant and compete with the Netherlands—a leading global exporter.  

 Key Points 

• Economic and Agricultural Impact: 
  • India imports 20-25 lakh tulip bulbs and cut flowers annually, mainly from the Netherlands. 
  • Establishing sustainable tulip production will help meet domestic demand and create opportunities for international exports. 
  • Pulwama’s Bonera station, spread over 60 hectares at 5,400 feet, is emerging as a key hub for this initiative. 
    • Over one lakh tulips are in full bloom at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine’s research centre in Pulwama’s Bonera area. 
• Vision for Expansion: 
  • The Ministry plans to develop theme-based tulip gardens and production centers in regions with suitable agro-climatic conditions. 
  • J&K is expected to become a major hub for tulip bulb production, potentially rivaling the Netherlands in research and development. 
• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden: 
  • Srinagar’s Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia’s largest, attracts thousands of tourists every spring. 
  • The region imports 15 lakh bulbs annually from the Netherlands to maintain its floral display. 
  • Over five lakh tulip bulbs have also been planted in other parts of India, mainly in New Delhi. 
• Need for Indigenous Production: 
  • India’s floriculture sector faces economic and logistical challenges due to reliance on expensive imported tulip bulbs. 
  • Imported bulbs are vulnerable to global market fluctuations, trade restrictions, and supply chain disruptions. 
• Scientific Trials and Adaptability: 
  • Since 2022, CSIR-IIIM has been conducting trials to optimize agro-technological protocols for large-scale cultivation. 
  • Researchers are evaluating resilience against pests, diseases, and climatic stresses to develop robust tulip varieties for Indian conditions. 

 Agriculture 4.0 

• Agriculture 4.0, also known as smart farming or digital farming, represents the fourth major revolution in agricultural practices, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to optimize food production and resource management. 
• This innovative approach integrates advanced digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data analytics, robotics, and precision farming techniques into traditional agricultural practices.