It’s Bloomsday This Valentine’s: Floral Exports To See Big Surge, Roses Worth Rs 30 Crore To Be Shipped Abroad

According to Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP), Indian farmers will export roses worth Rs 27-30 crore to countries across the world for Valentine’s Day celebrations in 2019, reports The Hindu BusinessLine (BL).

While roses worth Rs 23 crore were exported in February 2018, the number was Rs 17 crore in the same period in 2017.

“Earlier there were no large-scale projects, but since 1991, floriculture has gained roots in India and today it has percolated to small farmers. We have member farmers who hold 10 guntas land and are reaping benefits by exporting roses, ” said Praveen Sharma, President of ISFP, to BL. “In 2019 (from January to December), we estimate roses worth ₹70 crore will be exported by us.”

Currently, ISFP exports roses to countries as diverse as Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, apart from the UK.

“Floriculture technology has reached small farmers. It costs about Rs 10-12 to cultivate a good quality rose. The cost includes transportation and other expenses. In February, a flower sells at Rs 25-50 in the international market and it gives a big boost to farmers’ income,” said Raju Chougule, an agriculture expert and a farmer to BL.

Blooming Market

According to a report by IMARC Group, the Indian floriculture market reached a value of Rs 157 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach a value of nearly Rs 472 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 20 per cent during 2019-2024. Presently, India has around 249,000 hectares under floriculture production.

Also Read: 95 Per Cent Science: Lessons For India From Israel’s Farms