Inside one of the poly houses at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Jeedimetla, an experiment has been on for the last two years. The poly house has rows of raised platforms on which are 10,000 plants each of Sonia White and Sonia Red varieties of Dendrobium orchids. Beneath these platforms are micro sprinklers, which when in operation, create a mist-like atmosphere within the poly house. These, coupled with rooftop sprinklers, help reduce the temperature and increase the humidity levels that are required to grow orchids.

Telangana’s arid weather conditions are not conducive to grow orchids. However, there’s a growing demand for orchids in the commercial market in Hyderabad and other urban pockets of the State. In recent years, a few farmers in Sangareddy and Medak districts have begun growing orchids, knowing that each flower stalk can fetch a price of ₹10 to ₹20 in the market.

The CoE began experimenting in 2017. The horticulture department narrowed down on genus Dendrobium, one of the widely cultivated orchids for commercial use in India and abroad.

“Summers in Hyderabad record temperatures of 40-plus degree Celsius, but inside the poly house, we reduce the heat and increase the humidity by using micro sprinklers on the ground and rooftop,” explains K Latha, assistant director of horticulture, CoE. The average temperature required to grow Dendrobium orchids is around 19 to 21 degree Celsius during the growth phase and 20 to 25 degree Celsius during the flowering phase, with a relative humidity of 60% to 80%.

The poly house is lined on all sides with rows of vertical pipes containing leafy green vegetables. From the surface of these greens grown using the vertical farming method, there’s increased water evaporation which adds to the humidity in the poly house.

“Orchid cultivation is high on investment. Where a farmer can grow other crops with an investment of ₹4.5 lakh to 6 lakh, he has to spend ₹28 lakh to 35 lakh for orchids. The investment goes towards setting up poly houses, the medium to grow the plants, the raised platforms, micro sprinklers and polynet curtains. We are growing orchids as an experiment to see if it can be profitable,” sums up Latha.

It’s a work in progress that the CoE hopes will yield good dividends.