Shillong, Apr 13: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma claimed that floriculture in the state is not dwindling.

“Over 500 hectares of land is under floriculture,” he said while replying to the budget discussion in the Assembly here on Friday.

He said the state have been able to push many flowers in which much stress was laid on promoting orchids in East Khasi Hills and anthorium in Garo Hills.

Sangma however said that the actual challenge is logistics that need to be addressed to ensure storage and transportation of flowers and other perishable items.

He informed he had a review meeting with the department concerned and it was discussed on the need to come up with the directorate for food processing in the state.