Now,Ranchi boasts of own Dutch roses

Rasila,armed with a graduate degree in Botany from Ranchi University,decided it was about time the state boasted of its own Dutch roses.

In 2006,she set up a farm on four acres of land provided to her by her husband,Ajit,to grow Dutch roses and exotic flowers like jarbera and carnation.

The farm was named A.R. Farm,after the husband-wife duo,where four greenhouses were set up.

“In a span of just two years,I raised nearly 60,000 Dutch rose plants in the greenhouses,each spread over 3,000 square metres and 6.5 metres high,” said Rasila.

She added another 5,000 plants this August,which is set to jack up the production from the current 1,500 to 2,000 stems to 2,500 stems a day. The cost of one stem ranges between Rs 5 and Rs 10.

The specially designed greenhouse ensures a controlled temperature of 12-25°C,wind velocity and humidity — all necessary for healthy growth of the flower.

Unlike ordinary roses,Dutch roses have long stems of about 10-12 inches,big buds,are semi-bloomed and have a longer vase life.

The plants are raised in rows of beds of earth mixed with compost. “Apart from watering the plants,drips are used to provide nutrients,” said Rasila.

Their company,which employs six workers and a technician,made an initial investment of Rs 90 lakh,and has so far sold flowers worth more than Rs 60 lakh.

Since the Centre’s National Horticulture Board had provided 20 percent subsidy,Rasila is out of debt now,said Ajit.

However,the couple lament lack of state support for such ventures. “Since floriculture is an employment generation vocation,states like Tripura and Maharashtra provide 50 to 70 percent subsidy in it. But in Jharkhand,where soil and climate are much suitable for flower cultivation,there is no such subsidy. Also,if a wholesale market of flowers was set up somewhere close,the middlemen who slice away a huge sum as traders,could be marginalised,” said Ajit.