India’s share in world flower mkt less than 1%

Marginal farmers are unable to produce new varieties of flowers due to high cost of royalty.

India’s share in the world flower market is less than 1 per cent despite vast potential for increase in area under floriculture,Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Food Processing Harish Rawat said in the Lok Sabha that the country’s share in the global flower market is less than 1 per cent.

“Possible reason for this may be: lucrative domestic market and high international air freight rates for flowers,” he said in a written reply.

The minister also mentioned that small and marginal farmers are unable to produce new varieties of flowers due to high cost of royalty. They are mostly into flower cultivation catering to the domestic market.

At present,royalty for new varieties of cut flowers like rose,chrysanthemum,carnation,gebera,anthurium and lilium is inbuilt in the cost of imported planting material,he said.

“Such flowers are mostly grown by well established corporate houses and companies who export to Europe,Japan,Australia to the extent of royalty paid planting material,” Rawat explained.

The agricutlure ministry is implementing two schemes Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan Staes and National Horticulture Mission — for the holistic development of horticultural crops,including flowers in the country.

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To promote export of flowers,Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) also operates a number of schemes by providing transport assistance for export of floriculture products by air and sea route.