Srinagar, November 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that government jobs cannot solve the entire employment crisis.

“The reality is that we cannot give government jobs to everyone,” the chief minister said after laying the foundation stone for the upgradation of a hi-tech flower nursery and the development of Bagh Gul Dawood (chrysanthemum theme garden). Here in Srinagar. Government jobs will not end unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. We will give as much as we can. But unless we increase the private sector, we will not be able to cure this disease of unemployment. We hope that big owners will come from abroad and set up factories here, but they won’t.

Projects for Hi-Tech Flower Nursery and Bagh Gul Dawood are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4.83 crore and Rs 1.87 crore respectively.

The upgraded nursery at the Polo View facility is intended to serve not only as a plant resource center but also as an educational center.

Workshops and training sessions will be organized to empower farmers and citizens with sustainable horticulture practices.

The chrysanthemum theme garden, spread across 100 kanals, is set to become a major autumn attraction.

It will showcase vibrant flowers in shades of yellow, red, pink, and purple, adding charm to Kashmir’s tourism landscape during the traditionally quiet autumn months.

CM Umar emphasized the importance of gardens in Kashmir’s heritage and tourism.

He said: “Kashmir Valley is world famous for its breathtaking beauty, and our gardens have a special place in this charm. Ever since people started visiting Kashmir, they have either established gardens or Made them a must-see. For example, the Mughals built famous gardens like Chashma Shahi, Shalimar and Harwan. Over time, visitors, even if they didn’t see anything else, made sure to visit these Mughal gardens “

The Chief Minister highlighted how the introduction of the Tulip Garden changed the tourism climate of Kashmir. “Our tourism season was once limited to two periods: in winter, when people came to witness the snowfall, or in May, when visitors visited gardens and other natural attractions. However, with the establishment of the Tulip Garden, this pattern changed. It extended our tourist season to March and April,” he said. “Today, the people of Srinagar know how bustling the area around the Tulip Garden becomes during this time. Passing traffic near the garden is also a challenge.”

Noting the need for similar promotion for autumn tourism, CM Umar appreciated the efforts of Parks and Gardens Department and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K).

“While the tulip garden has made a remarkable impact, a new challenge lies in utilizing the ‘off-season’ months of October and November, before snowfall draws tourists to places like Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam. To address this, I commend the Parks and Gardens Department and SKUAST-K for their role in introducing the Daisy Garden – Chrysanthemum Garden.

Explaining the potential of chrysanthemum garden, the CM said: “Chrysanthemum, a flower that blooms in autumn, has the potential to do in October and November what a tulip garden does in March and April. Those will also visit other parts of Kashmir, which will benefit the entire tourism ecosystem – be it hunters, taxi drivers, houseboat owners, or others.”

On the sustainability of the initiative, he said, “The important thing is that, unlike tulips, which require the import of expensive bulbs to maintain the garden, chrysanthemums are grown locally without external dependence. Our efforts are already underway to reduce imports and export tulip bulbs. With chrysanthemums, however, we are self-reliant from the start Initiative next year will be fully developed and marketed, giving Srinagar a new tourist destination in the form of the Chrysanthemum Garden.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also spoke about the importance of promoting high-value, low-volume products like essential oils.

He said that lavender oil, peppermint oil and similar products are already being showcased with the support of cut flowers and progressive growers.

CM Umar congratulated the progressive farmers on their success and promised government support, saying: “If you face any difficulties, tell us so that we can help you.”

He emphasized the need to strengthen the private sector to combat unemployment.

“It is a fact that we cannot give government jobs to everyone. Addressing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir needs to go beyond government jobs. Although we will create more government jobs, the solution is Unless we empower the private sector, unemployment cannot be tackled effectively,” the CM said.

He said that it was a challenge to expect large-scale foreign investment here (Kashmir).

“Instead, we should focus on strong local foundations, such as agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, and floriculture,” CM Umar said. “To those who are already in these fields or aspiring to enter them, I can assure you that our government is committed to support you in every possible way. Together, we will continue to grow horticulture and its can strengthen connected industries, which can pave the way for sustainable growth and opportunities.”

Adviser to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani. Member Legislative Assembly Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Parks and Gardens Sheikh Fayyaz Ahmed; Director Floriculture Kashmir also participated on this occasion.

The chrysanthemum theme garden located within the botanical garden of Srinagar is being developed at a cost of Rs 1.87 crore.

With its flowers expected to turn colorful in late autumn, the garden is all set to open to the public in autumn 2025, ushering in a new chapter in Kashmir’s tourism story.