Floriculture sector cheers as the rose blooms this Valentine's Day

Price of the flower doubles, Indian growers see greater potential in domestic markets than exports

At a time when farmers across the country are struggling to realise even the cost of production due to the sustained fall in the prices of agricultural commodities, rose growers have plenty of reasons to cheer due to a sharp increase in the price of the flower this Valentine’s Day season.

Rose, a symbolic expression of love, has become costlier by up to 100 per cent, with demand rising from multi-lingual and multi-cultural consumers in economically advanced cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi. According to industry sources, realisation has jumped to Rs 15 a stem this Valentine’s