Key Points

Since 2013, Gogoi has transformed his deep-rooted admiration for nature into a thriving conservation effort that has captured the imagination of tourists, researchers, and orchid lovers across India.

The Kopou Phool, known for its intoxicating fragrance and cultural significance in Assamese traditions, particularly worn by women during the Bihu festival, has found a haven in Gogoi's garden.

Speaking to ANI, Mithu Gogoi, a farmer's nature enthusiast, said, "First of all, I welcome you all here. Since childhood, I have grown up surrounded by nature, which has always inspired my thoughts and ideas. Motivated by this connection, I decided to preserve the Kopou phool (Rhynchostylis retusa). In 2013, I began cultivating Kopou phool in my garden, which has now transformed into a vibrant orchid jungle."

"In my orchid garden, we have around 325 species of orchids, but what truly sets it apart is the 9,000 Rhynchostylis retusa, commonly known as Kopou Phool, that we have preserved here," he further added.

Gogoi, a farmer's nature enthusiast, said, "We did not collect these orchids from the wild; instead, we rescued them from residences, buildings, and other urban environments and carefully relocated them to our garden."

"I have not been planting and preserving these flowers for commercial purposes. We used to sell these orchids in Assam, India, and even exported them to other countries. However, during the Covid pandemic, our distribution channels were cut off, and now we only sell within Assam and some parts of India. Climate change has had a huge impact on these flowers. You see, this is usually the blooming season for orchids, but due to climate change, only about 50 percent have bloomed so far. I am preserving these orchids on my own. This is one of my personal aims and hobbies. I haven't received any aid from the government or any other organizations," he asserted.

"Institutions like Assam Agricultural University and the Regional Research Laboratory have visited my garden for research purposes. Students from various schools and colleges also come here, and tourists from different parts of the country visit as well. However, foreign tourists have not yet visited my garden. Due to government regulations, we are not allowed to preserve endangered species of orchids. Here, we only preserve rescued orchids. We do not collect orchids from the wild," the farmer nature enthusiast said.

- ANI