Floriculture exports set to bloom 20%

India's floriculture exports are likely to rise 20 per cent in 2005-06 to over Rs 300 crore, said K S Money, chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

Floriculture exports grew 16 per cent to Rs 260 crore in the last fiscal. India's share of the global $80 billion floriculture market is, however, a paltry 0.06 per cent.

"Keeping in mind the opportunities in international market, Apeda is pursuing to reach an export target of Rs 1,000 crore by 2010," he added."Towards this, we are planning to adopt new initiatives to facilitate exports," Money said.

Apeda plans to set up integrated facilities for handling and storage of exportable perishable products at Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar and Kolkata airports. It is also considering proposals for setting up similar facilities at Bagdogra, Goa, Calicut and Coimbatore airports.

Currently, integrated facilities are only at international airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram.

To facilitate exports Apeda has urged government to exempt perishable products from sales tax.

"We hope government to consider this demand as it will boost the industries in sectors involving perishable products," Money said.