Vizag Nursery Pioneers New-For-Old Plant Exchange Programme
Visakhapatnam: In what appears to be a first-of-its-kind initiative in Visakhapatnam city, a nursery in Gopalapatnam Rythu Bazaar is offering to replace old plants with new ones in a bid to encourage the habit of growing plants among people.
Mohammad Fasi Ur Rahman and his brother initiated the swap offer. “The main aim is to encourage the younger generation to consider gardening as a serious hobby. Many people become discouraged when the plants they grow become dull or do not look as healthy as they expected,” says Rahman.
The nursery owner started the replacement program a few months ago after realizing that homegrown houseplants, flowering varieties and fruiting types could lose their vigor over time.
Customers bring their old plants. Rahman evaluates their situation and health. Customers can choose a new sapling of the same plant or another plant. Customers only pay the difference amount.
For example, a customer may return a facility worth ₹20. He wants a rose bush priced at ₹60. Customer pays ₹40 for replacement.
The initiative proved popular as people started visiting the exchange corner. Many people who come to Rythu Market to buy their daily vegetables are attracted to the plant exchange service.
Rahman ensured sustainability by not throwing away the replaced plants. Instead, revitalization efforts are underway using improved soil and special techniques. These plants, which have regained their health, are offered for sale again.
Beyond the exchange program, Rahman and his brother expanded their vision to include agritourism. They rented 13 acres of land from local tribes near Lambasingi in Chintapalli mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district. They started the cultivation project on 10 acres of land producing flower varieties like marigold, zinnia and gazania from Jammu, Srinagar, Pune and Bangalore.
“Tourists from distant places come to Lambasingi for only two or three months during the winter season. We are developing our agro-tourism project to attract them throughout the year,” Rahman said. he said.
The nursery currently stocks 85 varieties of plants.
Plant varieties:
Ornamental cabbage (scientific name: Brassica oleracea)
Dianthus, often called pinks or carnations
zinnia flowers
Orange calendula flowers, often called potted marigolds
African marigold
orange marigold flower
Ghazaniye
marigold tennis ball
anthronium
English daisies, often called Chandani
Chrysanthemum
