Indian roses make a global performance

Rose exports from India have touched a record high, but the future may not be all that rosy in the face of rising competition from other countries

Though India accounts for around 1% of global floriculture trade, the government has identified this sector as a sunrise industry with significant increase in annual production and land utilised for it

Owing to steady increase in demand of flowers globally and in the country, small and marginal farmers are taking up flower production. Top flower producing states are: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu , Rajasthan and West Bengal

Apart from roses, there is a huge demand for Indian flowers such as jasmine and marigold. The country has exported 22,086.10 MT of floriculture products in 2016-17

Besides other festivals like Dussehra, Diwali and New Year, round Valentine's Day see a spike in orders in countries like UK, West Asia, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Russia, New Zealand, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, China and Netherlands. India has shipped over 100 mn stems of red roses

This year, the exports is expected to grow by 15% with majority of flowers are headed to UK. In 2016, total exports around Valentine's Day was Rs 20 crore

Despite good yield owing to good rains and other favourable conditions, the demand for roses especially from Tamil Nadu has seen a dip due to some stiff competition from other producer countries. Till last year, roses from Hosur flooded the  global markets. But this year, Indian rose growers are facing stiff competition with Kenyan growers offering better quality of flowers at the same price