"BAHRAIN could soon turn into a production centre for orchids in the Middle East...
The Taiwan Technical Mission in Manama, is already nearly half way through a five-year trial being run in co-operation with the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry. ... Mission leader Wei-Ho Lin said the aim was to tap in to the region's lucrative horticulture market by selling the plants to hotels, restaurants, farmers and private consumers. No exact figures were available about the value of the orchid industry in the Gulf, but Dubai last year spent $150 million (BD56.7m) importing the flower from Taiwan. ... " Mr Lin told... "... many five-star hotels are decorating their establishments with this flower..." Taiwan produces three billion orchid plants a year and exports half of them to countries around the world. Mr Lin said part of the aim of the mission was to bring that expertise to Bahrain and pass on knowledge and growing techniques to help local farmers. The crops in Bahrain have been cultivated in greenhouses where the temperature is strictly controlled with air-conditioning systems. A team of five technicians give them 24-hour care... said Mr Lin. "The goals of our horticulture project are to help farmers in Bahrain improve their growing technique and increase their income." URL : http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=219673&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31080 **************** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
