New hybrid plant varieties to be created

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Department of Botanical Gardens will create new hybrid plant varieties by combining the popular ornamental plants in the market with native plants. The Department is also conducting experiments to improve the qualities of native plants which have an ornamental potential and introduce them to the market as new products."Floriculture as an industry has shown a sharp improvement in local and international markets. Our intention is to add more varieties to the limited number of popular ornamental plant varieties in the market," said Director General of the Department of Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, Dr. Siril Wijesundara.

"Such research work takes considerable time to show results.Yet this research is essential to meet the growing demand in the world market for new varieties of ornamental plants," Dr. Wijesundara said. "At the beginning of this century, the income of the industry showed a sharp increase, especially in exports," he said.

The industry has earned Rs. 1,400 million in 2008 on exports. Today young plants (potted plants) and foliage are exported apart from cut flowers.

The Department has set up a floriculture association named 'Suwahasmal', a collection of ornamental plant growers scattered islandwide to upgrade the domestic floriculture. Workshops and awareness programs are being conducted to educate growers on new techniques and plant varieties.