Flower power

Flower production, if managed professionally, has the potential to outperform most other kinds of farm pursuits in terms of income

Commercial cultivation of flowers (floriculture), which practically took off after the liberalisation of the seed policy in the late 1980s, has bloomed into a lucrative agri-business. When agriculture has turned, by and large, unremunerative, returns from flower farming remain positive thanks to demand growth in both domestic and export markets. Flower production, if done scientifically and managed professionally, has the potential to outperform most other kinds of farm pursuits in terms of income.

After opening up of the economy in the 1990s, floriculture was deemed one of the sunrise sectors and accorded 100 per cent export-oriented status. This allowed it to avail of tax benefits like income tax holiday, exemption from certain import duties and some subsidies. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), which has been tasked with the development of floriculture by promoting flower exports, offers additional subsidies and grants for the expansion of supportive infrastructure, such as cold stores, pre-cooling units, refrigerated transportation and greenhouses (poly-houses) for growing flowers under controlled conditions. It also subsidises air freight for export-bound consignments.  

 

However, though India is now the world’s second largest flower producer, next to China, its share in the global trade of floriculture products is meagre 0.4 per cent. The total exports from this sector amounted merely to around Rs 5.07 billion in 2017-18. The international flower bazaar is typically dominated by The Netherlands with a solid 60 per cent share. Some other countries, notably Kenya, Columbia and Israel, are also gradually firming up their foothold in this market. India is yet to make a noticeable headway in this field.

The quality is the main concern in flower exports. To meet the international standards, they need to be grown in greenhouses where temperature, humidity and other atmospheric parameters can be manipulated to suit the needs. At present, less than 2 per cent of the total area under flower farming has poly-housing facilities. Most of such hi-tech floriculture farms are owned and managed by corporate houses using the technology acquired from The Netherlands, France or Israel. Though many farmers growing flowers in open fields also plant seeds of exotic varieties imported from abroad, their produce generally fails to match the quality of flowers produced in greenhouses.

T Janakiram, assistant director-general (horticulture) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), feels that indigenous varieties of flowers need to be developed for growing in greenhouses specifically for exports. India has evolved good technology for producing dry flowers that have a significant niche in the world market. An export-push to these flowers and their value-added products can help raise India’s share in global trade. Packaging of export cargo, too, needs to improve. This is essential to ensure that the flowers retain their freshness when they land at retail counters in importing countries. Dehydrated flowers need specialised packaging because these are equally vulnerable to damage during transit. This apart, India can produce seeds and seeding material of various types of flowers exclusively for export. There is good scope also for the production of hybrid seeds which fetch premium prices in the global bazaar.

India is fortunate to have a rich diversity of orchids, many of which are unique in their appearance and customer appeal. The northeastern region, notably Sikkim and its adjoining areas, is abound in highly coveted cymbidium orchids which are in great demand in countries like the US, UK, Australia and Japan. Mizoram, on the other hand, has a remarkable variety of anthuriums. These flowers can be grown in the open, without greenhouses. But the agronomy of their cultivation needs to be refined to enhance their yield and improve their quality to outdo the competitors.  However, for exports, such flowers need to be airlifted immediately after plucking as their quality begins to deteriorate fast. Poor air connectivity of the northeastern states and high freight rates, despite subsidy, act as formidable constraints in boosting their exports. These issues need to be addressed to gainfully tap the country’s flower export potential.

surinder.sud@gmail.com