Rajasthan sets up rose market in Ajmer

Rajasthan is planning to export roses and has set up a market specifically for the flower in Ajmer, 140 km from here.

In the area around Pushkar in Ajmer, a large number of roses are cultivated and the petals are used for fragrance, essence, rose water, and other edible products.

"Keeping in view the high production of flowers, especially roses, we constructed a market for roses in the Ajmer area, following which, we are now looking at the possibility of exporting it from here," said Prabhu Lal Saini, Rajasthan's minister of agriculture.

Kabbu Jat, a local farmer said: "This move will help us get a better price for our produce."

He said a large quantity of roses is regularly sent from Pushkar and Ajmer to other parts of the country.

As per the plan, 20-30 per cent of the Ajmer's yearly production of over 3 million tonne is to be exported.

"We received an enquiry from Japan on import of roses from the state few months back," Saini said.

"If there is a large demand for roses from Rajasthan, then our horticulture department will take steps to set up green houses, and monitor production under strict quality control," the minister said.

"We also have a research facility at the agriculture university in Udaipur to help us in growing roses for consumers overseas."