1st Indian Orchid Festival 2025 organised

1^st – 4^th March 2025, Sikkim

The first-ever Indian Orchid Festival 2025 was organized by ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids in Pakyong, Sikkim, from March 1–4, 2025. The festival featured an orchid show-cum-competition with 102 participants across 19 categories.

The Chief Guest, Dr V. K. Mishra, Director, ICAR-NEH, Umaim inaugurated the orchid show-cum-competition.

Other notable dignitaries present were Dr A. Pattanayak, Former Director, ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora and ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Dr M. K. Verma, Director, ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, Dr K. K. Baurah, Governing Body member, ICAR and Dr A. K. Pandey, Dean, CoH, Bermiok. 

A total of 102 participants showcased their exhibits in the orchid show-cum-competition across 19 categories.

On the second day, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPVFR&A, discussed the importance of registering indigenous varieties for legal protection. During the session, orchid hybrids and publications from ICAR-NRCO were also released in his presence.

The session was attended by experts from PPVFR&A, Dr. K.V. Prasad, Director of ICAR-DFR, and district officials. An awareness session on orchid cultivation and IPR issues was held for local growers. The second day also featured the distribution of orchid planting materials under ICAR-NRCO’s TSP and SCSP programs, along with the NEH program of ICAR-IIWBR, benefiting 300 farmers from Sikkim and Darjeeling with Cymbidium (20 plants) and Dendrobium (40 plants). Additionally, inter-college cultural competitions were held for students.

On the third day, Shri Purna Gurung, Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Animal Husbandry, Sikkim, addressed the gathering and released value-added products developed by ICAR-NRCO. The day included a session on the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, attended by growers and industrialists. 

An institute-industry stakeholders' meeting followed, with key players from the orchid industry discussing challenges and signing four MoUs with ICAR-NRCO to advance orchid research, education, and trade. Key participants included Mahyco Pvt. Ltd, Darjeeling Gardens, KF Bioplants, Rhynco Orchids, Eunioa Orchids, Smartogenic Pvt. Ltd, and delegates from Orchid Societies across NE states, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and The Neotia University. A national dialogue on promoting orchid cultivation in the context of climate change also took place, along with inter-school cultural competitions. 

Additionally, 150 farmers received orchid planting materials under the NEH grant of ICAR-NIRCA, Andhra Pradesh. The final day featured a farmers-scientist interaction session discussing ICAR-NRCO’s cultivation and value addition technologies. The festival concluded with an award ceremony for the orchid show-cum-competition winners.

(Source: ICAR-National Research Centre for Orchids, Sikkim)