SCOPE OF COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE IN INDIA

What is Floriculture?

Floriculture is a specialized branch of horticulture which deals with the cultivation of cut- flowers, pot plants, cut-greens, loose flowers, seeds, bulbs, landscape plants and also with their marketing and production of value added products from them.

                                                                        or

Floriculture is defined as branch of horticulture which deals with the commercial growing, marketing and arranging flowers and ornamental plants, which includes annuals, biennials, perennials viz., trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials.

 

Components of Floriculture Industry

• Florist Trade (cut flowers, loose flowers, cut greens, dried flowers and flower arrangements).
• Plant Nursery
• Seeds and bulbs
• Flower perfumery
• Landscape gardening
• Plant rental services

IMPORTANCE OF FLORIULTURE IN INDIA

Floriculture is important from the following point of view:

• Economic point of view
• Social point of view
• Aesthetic point of view

1. Economic Point of View

• Floriculture is fast emerging in the world and plays an important role in national economy as one can get foreign exchange by exporting the different floricultural products.
• Many flowers and ornamental plants are being grown for domestic as well as export market will provide more return/unit area than any other agricultural/horticultural crops.
• Modern day floriculture refers to the production of high value cut- flowers such as rose, gladiolus, carnation, orchids, tuberose, anthuriums, lilium, gerbera etc. which are suited  for flower arrangements/decorations, for bouquet preparation and for floral baskets, have increased sustainability and its share of the total trade has also improved.
• The sale of loose flowers of Jasmine, Crossandra, Marigold, China aster, Chrysanthemums, Barleria and Gailardia etc., are a roaring business in south India.
• The present trend in floriculture is for making dry flowers, extraction of natural colours and essential oils.
• There is lot of demand for good quality flower seeds and ornamental planting material.
•  Floriculture generates various employment oppurtunities round the year.

 

2. Social Point of View

• Flowers symbolize the purity, beauty, peace, love, adoration, innocence and passion etc.
• In our society, no social function is complete without the use of flowers, floral ornaments, bouquets or flower arrangements they are used in all social functions.
• Used in social gathering, birthday parties, welcoming friends or relatives.
• The arrival of new born is rejoiced with flowers.
• To an Indian, especially for Hindu’s, flowers have a much greater significance in religious offerings. It has estimated that more than 30-40% of flower production are being consumed in Kolkata city alone used for worshiping purpose.
• Floral garlands, gajras and venis are required in marriage ceremonies for adornment of hairs by women of all ages, especially in south India.
•  In the present modern era, sicks are wished for speedy recovery by offering beautiful cut flowers, while the deads are bidden farewell with flowers along with tear of sorrow.
•  Flowers are very closely associated with mankind from the dawn of human civilization. There is increasing habit of saying with flowers. Any indian born with flowers live with flowers and finally dies with flowers.

3. Aesthetic Point of View

• Floriculture is the aesthetic part of human life. A person who loves flowers and plants are very much near to nature. People get much pleasure by growing flowers.
• Floriculture crops are grown to beautify the surrounding  and checks pollution in the environment.
• Lots of scope for landscaping and is considered as billion dollar earning industry in states which ultimately adds the monitory value of any building/property.
• To a Japanese flower arranger each plant expresses one or more meaning (e.g Ikebana)
• The wealth of any nation is linked with the health of its people. Unless we can ensure the healthy development  of our citizens, especially for the younger generation, by providing them for open breathing places through bio-aesthetic planning  like in Chandigarh city and landscape gardening, we cannot expect to buildup a healthy  society and prosperous nation.
•  Horticultural therapy is the new dimension of horticultural sciences to heal the psychic debility and the science is to use garden, landscape plants, part of plants, growing activity as tools to work.
• Flowers improves the overall quality of life and develops a sustainable ecosystem.
• Flowers are being utilized in psychiatric  hospitals, general hospitals, homes for elderly, prisons and schools.
• The patients can achieve high level of personal development and satisfaction.

 

Scope to enter Floriculture Industry in India

• India is blessed with varied and dynamic agro-climatic conditions, good quality soil and water made suitable for floriculture. Hence, there is scope of extending flower cultivation in all the agroclimatic zones of India.
• Geographically India is located between two major markets i.e. Europe and East asia.
• Winter is being very mild and hence there is lot of scope to export Indian flowers to temperate countries during the winter season, when the demand is in peak because of important winter festivals like Christmas, New year day and Valentine’s day.
• The Govt. of India has identified Floriculture as ‘Extreme Focus Thrust area’ for export during IX plan.
• The international market is growing 8-10% annually. The international demand is around 90,000 crore/ year and domestic market at 20-25% . Hence the scope to enter floriculture in India is unlimited.
• The Govt. of India has setup the infrastructure for floriculture Industry in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, chennai, Bengaluru and pune etc.
•  APEDA is giving financial assistance to some extent for various activities connected with export of floriculture products.
• Easy bank financing for Hi-tech Floriculture.
• 100% export oriented units are located in and around Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Hosur, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli (Karnataka) in south and Gurugram (Haryana) in north and Lonawala and Pune (Maharastra) in west.
• For 100% EOU’s  the govt. has allowed to sale 50% of produce in domestic markets
• Singapore is the nearest International flower auction center, helpful for indian exports
• Floriculture products possess 25-30 time more foreign exchange earning ability than any other agricultural/ horticultural crops.
• Floriculture is capable of attracting, retaining large number of progressive farmers/enterpreneurs.
• Due to ample sunlight and optimum temperature during winters, it does not requires artificial lighting or heating for greenhouse production of cut flowers.
• APEDA and GOK has established four flower auction centers including one in Bengaluru, Noida (UP), Mumbai and New delhi.
• APEDA also has setup a marketing center at Aalsmeer (The Netherlands) to promote indian produce.
• Floriculture generates various employment oppurtunities round the year. The employment oppurtunities in the field are:

I. One can join the floriculture field as farm manager, plantation experts, supervisors and project coordinators and so on

II. Teaching, Research and Extension Scientists/ teachers are some other avenues of employment in all SAU’s and NARS.

III. Marketing of floriculture products is emerging as a potential segment of this field.

IV. Besides, one can also work as enterpreneur and offer employment to others.

V. Floriculture also provides service carrier oppurtunities which includes jobs like floral designers, ground keepers, landscape designers, architects and horticulture therapists.

• The Govt. of India has identified produce specific zones for selective research and development of floriculture.

S. No.	Zone	Flower crops
1.	Area around Delhi, UP and Punjab	Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, gladiolus
2.	Area around Bengaluru	Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Ornamental foliage plants and seeds
3.	Area around Trivendrum	Orchids, Anthurium and foliage plants
4.	Area around Pune/Nasik	Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, gladiolus, Dahlia, Aster and Tuberose
5.	North eastern Region including Sikkim	Orchids, Gladioulus, Lilium, gerbera,  salvia, Anthurium and  other foliage plants
6.	Area around Kolkata	Lotus, Tuberose, Jasmine, Chrysanthemum and Dahlia
7.	Area around Srinagar	Gladiolus, Lilies,  Carnation and Rose
8.	Area around Solan, H.P	Gladiolus, other bulbous plants and seeds
9.	Area around Coimbatore icluding Niligiri hills	Jasmine, Tuberose, Chrysanthemum,  Rose, carnation and Orchids

Present Status of Floriculture in India

• Total Area under Floriculture:- 324.003 (in 000 ha)
• Total Production of Flower crops:
• Loose Flower Production:- 1962.028 (in 000 MT)
• Cut Flower Production:- 822.750 (in 000 MT)

•        Top  5 leading States having maximum Area (Area in 000 ha)

•                J & K – 49.58
•                Kerela- 38.25
•                Tamilnaidu- 34.23
•                Karnataka- 31.36
•                West Bengal- 33.65

•        Top 5 Loose Flower Producing States (Production in 000 MT)

•                Tamilnaidu- 482.52
•                Andhra Pradesh- 428.95
•                Madhya Pradesh- 245.55
•                Karnataka- 230.96
•                Gujrat- 152.16

•        Top 5 Cut Flower Producing States (Production in 000 MT)

•               West Bengal- 204.47
•               Chhatisgarh- 179.58
•               Karnataka- 92.90 ,   
•               Uttar Pradesh- 65.2
•               Maharastra-56.9

Top  5 Exporting Countries                   

                                                                                     

Rank	Exporting Country	Qty (MT)	Value (000 USD)	Share(%)
1	Netherland	62,78,066.00	86,19,166.00	43.41
2	Colombia	1,91,915.00	14,34,655.00	7.23
3	Germany	4,67,480.00	10,40,716.00	5.24
4	Ecuador	1,15,705.00	9,30,843.00	4.69
5	Kenya	6,92,453.00	8,37,364.00	4.22
196	India	-	78,284.00	0.39

Export of Indian floricultural products:

•        Dry flowers (77.1%)

•        Cut flowers (6.1 %)

•        Bulbs and Rhizomes (0.8%)

•        Cut foliage (0.02%)

•        Others (15.9%)

Top  10 Cut Flowers

1.      Rose

2.      Chrysanthemum Spray

3.      Tulip

4.      Lilium

5.      Gerbera

6.      Chrysanthemum Standard

7.      Cymbidium

8.      Freesia

9.      Eustoma

10.    Carnation

In Himachal Pradesh,                Total Area under Floriculture:- 0.64 (in 000 ha)                Loose Flower Production :- 12.35 (in 000 MT)                Cut Flower Production :-     10.56 (in 000 MT) Main flower crops: Chrysanthemum, Marigold, Carnation, Gladiolus, Rose, Lilium Main Flower growing Distt: Sirmaour, Solan, Kangra, Shimla, Mandi, Chamba

Top  10 Pot Plants

1.  Phalaenopsis
2.  Kalanchoe
3.  Anthurium
4.  Rose
5.  Chrysanthemum
6.  Hyacinth
7.  Ficus
8.  Dracaena
9.  Hydrangea
10.  Spathiphylum