New Delhi, September 16: �I was overwhelmed when all my bonsai and azalea plants were sold out within four hours of the inauguration of the International Flora Expo 2007.It was beyond my expectation.

It was my first time to attend such a flora expo organized outside Manipur�, said Nongmaithem Samananda.

Samananda was one of the six growers participated at the 3rd International Flora Expo 2007, the South Asia�s biggest flora expo, organized by Madia Today Group at Pragati Maidan here from Sep 12 to 14.Rajdhani Nursery located at Jorbagh Road here booked all his 44 bonsai and 100 azalea plants within few hours of the opening of the Expo at a lump sum amount of Rs.one lakh.

Buyers were upset when it could not meet the demands.

Nongmaithem Samananda Singh aged 35 years of Singjamei Thongam Leikai , a botany graduate started his firm � �N.S.Nursery� in a 0.40 acre of land at his residence since 1988 nurturing bonsai, indigenous orchirds, anthorium, exotic and ornamental plants such as foliage plants, and fruit bearing plants.

He started marketing of his products from 1994-95.He had marketing link at Guwahati and Kolkata, and exported Aroucirea Cooki (x-mas tree) and azalea plants regularly.

Samananda said that he started horticulture as hobby during the childhood and then he became a professional grower.

During the Flora Expo, he had good contacts with around eight firms from UP, Himachal Pradesh, Mysore and Karnataka.

He got a week-long professional training in Greenhouse Management at Pune in 1995 under the sponsorship of the Department of Horticulture, Govt of Manipur.

He stated that he employed two permanent employees and 5/6 contract employees in his firm.

In Manipur, he had marketing networks at all the districts.

At his young age, Samananda became a successful professional grower with his hard work and showed the way of victory for other young growers who were making efforts in their respective fields.

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