~ 1878 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(4): 1878-1885 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(4): 1878-1885 Received: 26-05-2017 Accepted: 27-06-2017 Noor ul Islam Wani Division of Agricultural Extension and Communication Dr. MA Dar Division of Agricultural Extension and Communication Dr. Imtiyaz T Nazki Division of Floriculture Mohd Younus Wani Temperate Sericulture Research Institute, Mirgund Aabid Showkat Division of Entomology, SKUAST-K Correspondence Noor ul Islam Wani Division of Agricultural Extension and Communication. A study on the Socio-economic characteristics and the constraints faced by the registered flower growers in the production and marketing of flowers in Srinagar and Budgam districts of Kashmir valley Noor ul Islam Wani, Dr. MA Dar, Dr. Imtiyaz T Nazki, Mohd Younus Wani and Aabid Showkat Abstract The study was conducted in two districts of Kashmir, District Srinagar and district Budgam owing to the majority of registered flower growers. The type of survey was exhaustive in nature. An interview Schedule was devised as a tool to assess the knowledge and adoption level of the registered flower growers. Data was collected by personal interview method from 140 registered flower growers growing gerbera, lilium, gladiolus and carnation. Education, experience in cut flower production, exposure visits, participation in training programmes, economic motivation of growers were found to have a positive and significant relationship with knowledge and adoption level of the registered flower growers. Lack of mother stock and their high price, price of fertilizer and insecticides, lack of scientific knowledge & training, attack by pest & disease, lack of extension work came out as major financial and technical problems of the registered flower growers while inadequate & underdeveloped transportation & communication system, low market price, lack of market information, unstructured market are among major market related problems. On the other hand marketing intermediaries specified price instability, lack of adequate market information, lacking storage facilities, unsold flower, inadequate shop-space, demand fluctuation, strikes as their problems and constraints. Keywords: reregistered flower growers, interview schedule, knowledge, marketing and adoption Introduction The Indian floriculture industry comprises the florist trade, nursery plants, potted plants, bulb and seed production, micro-propagation and extraction for essential oils from flowers. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, UP, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States are the major flower growing states in India. Tamil Nadu is the largest loose flower producing state, while West Bengal is the Leading cut flower producing state in India. Rose is the principal cut-flower grown all over the country. Other most important cut flowers in the country are Gladiolus, Gerbera, Carnation, Lilium, Asters, Tuberose, Anthuriums and Orchids. Major markets in terms of number of traders involved are Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai in Tamil Nadu; Bangalore, Mysore and Dharwad in Karnataka; Hyderabad and Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh, Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin in Kerala. Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Kolkata in the Eastern India and Lukhnow/Kannaouj, Delhi and Rajasthan in North India. The Indian industry is growing at a compounded growth rate of 25 per cent over the last decade and is currently valued at US$ 230 million (Anonymous, 2013) [2] . In Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has propped the fledgling commercial flower production in J&K with the help of subsidies from centrally sponsored schemes like Horticulture Technology Mini Mission and RKVY. Department of Floriculture that previously was known a Department of Gardens and Parks (entrusted with the upkeep of gardens and public recreational spaces) underwent a radical revamp in 2007. The department started its activities in individual districts with the help of centrally sponsored schemes. (Misri, 2014) [24] . Government was able to create a primary extension and development apparatus in the districts that was instrumental in kick-starting commercial floriculture in different districts of J&K. The area under commercial floriculture has witnessed a quantum jump during the last six years. Government has also created a significant market side logistics/infrastructure in the form of cold storage facilities and refrigerated vans at district level. 15 walk-in-cold chambers at the cost of 182.00 lakhs have been established at various district headquarters in the Kashmir Valley and a provision of 9.00 lakhs has been kept for operational cost of these Walk-in Cold