Rose industry all set to blossom

The rose industry, spread across a total cultivation area of 200 hectares, is set to witness spectacular growth this year owing to rising demand for Indian rose brands such as "Sweet Heart" and "Intermediates" in the international markets.

The industry is flourishing with export orders flowing in from Africa, Middle East and Western countries. Bangalore-based Karuturi Networks, recently received an import order of one million stems per week at a cost of Rs 10 per stem from Morrison of UK.

Karuturi Networks, one of the largest rose producers of India, is eyeing the African market, Ethiopia to begin with. Ramkrishna Karuturi, managing director, said that Ethiopia's climate is favorable for rose cultivation and has laws which are similar to that of India.

Moreover, the Ethiopian government encourages industrial growth. The government is interested in Indian roses and that is one of the reasons why we got calls from the government of Ethiopia for for setting up a plant in the country, said Karuturi.

Exports of roses to the West has become a herculean task due to high transportation costs and taxes. Timeliness and careful handling of despatch and delivery are critical for roses as it is a perishable commodity.

In Ethiopia, Karutury Networks plans to acquire 50 hectares of land of which production on 15 hectares has already started five months ahead of schedule.

This facility produces about one million stems of "T-Hybrid" roses and is sold at a premium. Remaining 35 hectares of land would be acquired. The project is slated to be completed by December 2006.

Karuturi Networks has overall 10 hectares of land in Bangalore and produces about 1.5 million stems per hectare which is again sold at a premium of Rs 5.50 for each stem as against other products available in the market at Rs 2 per stem.

The company has decided to invest $8 million in the domestic as well as in the Ethiopian markets which would include 2 farmhouses in Bangalore and 3 farmhouses in Pune.