Gangtok, March 9: A media delegation from Meghalaya, currently on a six-day media exposure tour to Sikkim organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Shillong, on Monday visited the ICAR–National Research Centre for Orchids (ICAR–NRCO) at Pakyong and attended the Indian Orchid Festival 2026.
The delegation, accompanied by officials from PIB Gangtok, gained first-hand insights into the region’s rich orchid diversity and the expanding floriculture sector. During the visit, the journalists interacted with scientists and officials at the research centre to understand ongoing research, conservation efforts and developmental initiatives related to orchids.
Following the interaction, the delegation attended the Indian Orchid Festival 2026 organised by the ICAR–National Research Centre for Orchids under the theme “Orchids for Beauty and Prosperity.” The four-day festival aims to promote the rich orchid diversity of Sikkim and strengthen the state’s position as a hub for orchid cultivation.
At the festival, the visiting journalists witnessed a wide array of orchid varieties, including improved hybrid varieties as well as indigenous and native orchid species sourced from across the Northeast region. The colourful exhibition, displaying orchids of diverse shapes, colours and forms, captivated the delegation and highlighted the immense biodiversity of orchids found in the region.
The display also underscored the growing potential of floriculture as an important sector for livelihood generation and entrepreneurship in the Northeast.
During the event, the delegation interacted with orchid growers, exhibitors and experts participating in the festival. The journalists also met orchid farmers from Meghalaya engaged in orchid cultivation and floriculture-based livelihoods, discussing the scope and potential of orchid farming in Meghalaya as a promising sector for economic growth and entrepreneurship.
One of the highlights of the festival was the sale of a Cymbidium orchid named “Queen of Heart” for ₹40,000 by Aten Subba of Mirik in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The plant, which had two flowering spikes, is believed to be among the highest-priced single-pot orchid sales in the hill region, possibly even in India.
The festival also featured knowledge-sharing sessions by experts in the floriculture sector. Senior Scientist and Incharge of the Bio-Resources Development Centre (BRDC), Government of Meghalaya, Dr. Junie Pearl Lyngdoh, delivered a presentation on women bio-entrepreneurship through orchid cut-flower production. She highlighted the establishment of a women-centric floriculture network, its implementation areas, objectives and key achievements.
The exposure visit organised by PIB Shillong aims to provide journalists from Meghalaya with first-hand exposure to successful developmental initiatives in Sikkim, enabling them to report on best practices, innovative programmes and grassroots-level implementation of development initiatives.
