The Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR established the National Research Centre for Orchids NRCO at Pakyong in the East district of Sikkim to support the emerging orchid industry conservation and sustainable use of the countrys orchid bioresources through research Since its inception in 1996 NRCO has been working on various focal areas namely collection characterisation conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of orchids for ornamental and medicinal purposes developmentstandardisation of production propagation protection and postharvest technologies for commercial cultivation of orchids