Edriem Kharkongor , resident of Lumsohriew village located 15kms from Shillong has become a successful grower of different types of flowers. During his early days, Edriem had passion for flowers and other vegetable crops. He initially started growing different types of seasonal flowers, begonias etc in the year 2006 in a low cost polyhouse measuring about 50Sqm which he built from his own source. The outcome from this small unit was positive and since then there was no looking back to this ambitious farmer.

Taking note of his sincerity and love for flowers, the office of the District Horticulture Officer, Shillong decided to expand his floriculture activities in the year 2007 and was given a polyhouse of 100 sqm in which he raised 600 nos of Gerbera plants. The 1^st year itself, Edriem sold as much as 4000 cut flowers from the unit and till date the Gerbera unit has fetched him good returns.

In conversation with the visiting officials, Bah Edriem informed that he was encouraged from the positive outcome of the first assistance that he got from the office through HMNEH Scheme. Discovering the potentialities and huge demand of planting materials, he has now given up growing vegetables but decided to concentrate only in floriculture which he has expanded more areas under shade house where he raised seedlings of seasonal flowers comprising as much as 15(fifteen) different varieties viz. Cineraria, Polyanthus, Chrysanthemum etc. Bah Edriem is exploring the Shillong market and in occasions people from neighboring district of East Khasi Hills visit his area to buy his flowers. His annual income from sale of cut flowers, nursery plants is estimated at around 3.5 Lakhs and with that he has constructed a new house.

With such dedication and enthusiasm combined with a friendly manner, the Department wishes to see him as one of the progressive farmers under floriculture activities in the state. Bah Edriem is grateful for the assistance that has been extended to him by the HMNEH Scheme.