India’s share in global floriculture trade may not be significant but the country has, of late, shown enough potential to eventually turn itself as a favourite destination of flower importers in near future. Surprisingly, the small land-holding pattern, considered a handicap for the country’s agricultural production, comes as an advantage in floriculture due to its ‘low volume high value’ character. Since the sector has huge export potential, a number of small and marginal farmers have started turning towards flower production. Increasing domestic demand for both cut and loose flowers has also attracted farmers, mainly in leading flower producing states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, towards floriculture. The northeastern states, especially Mizoram, have also turned towards cultivating flowers of export varieties. Though the country had, during 2014-15, exported floriculture products worth over Rs.460 crore, its overall share is quite low in the global trade of nearly USD 40 billion or nearly Rs.2,72,000 crore. “There is a great demand for Indian flowers in Gulf countries. Besides the major cut flowers, the export of traditional flowers
such as jasmine and marigold is also gaining momentum in recent times,” said A K Singh, managing director of the agriculture ministry’s National Horticulture Board. Explaining how floriculture in the country moved from “dormancy to infancy”, backed by growing domestic demand and policy support from the government, Singh said, “The country is bestowed with ideal temperature conditions for commercial floriculture throughout the year in some or other part. This has helped growers in recognising diversification into floriculture as of a commercial value.” Singh said, “In recent times, importers have been shifting their focus to India and Ethiopia for cheaper flowers in the wake of rising cost of production in Kenya — the world’s largest exporter.” Quoting reports from the Kenya Investment Authority, Singh said, “India could overtake Kenya in floriculture in the near future.” 

2 million Kolhapur roses for Valentines across the world
Kolhapur has a rose each for two million people across the world this Valentine’s Day. Exporters from this Western Maharashtra town have sent close to two million roses to various parts of the world. And half of the consignments are of red roses. Ramesh Patil, the chief executive officer of Shrivardhan Biotech here, said his company had received a special demand for red roses from the UK, Australia, Greece and Japan. “This year, we
have exported 12 lakh roses to foreign countries. Another three lakh roses were sent to markets across the country. Though the domestic demand has plummeted this time, the international orders saw a sharp rise, he told TOI. The domestic market for the floriculturists here is New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Aurangabad. In February 2015, the firm had sent out about 10 lakh roses to foreign shores.

(Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 14 February 2016)