Floriculture is the branch of Horticulture which deals with the commercial growing, marketing and arranging flowers and ornamental plants which includes annuals, biennials and perennials viz., trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials.
PRESENT STATUS OF FLORICULTURE INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Government of India considered floriculture as an extreme focus segment during the 8th 5 year plan. In India, Floriculture industry comprises flower trade, production of nursery plants and potted plants, seed and bulb production, micro propagation and extraction of essential oils. Now domestic floriculture industry is growing at an annual rate of 25 percent per annum. In India in the year 2012-13 the area under flower crop cultivation 233,000 Ha with a production of 17,29,000 MT of loose flowers and 76,732 lakh stems of cut flowers. Total area under floriculture in India is second largest in the world and only next to China. At present the share of Indian floriculture products in international market is 0.6%. Fresh and Dried cut flowers dominate floriculture exports from India. India has exported 22,947.23 MT of floriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs. 460.75 crores in the year 2014-15. Tamilnadu is the leader in floriculture followed by Karnataka, accounting for 75% of India's total flower production and the state is having the highest area under both modern and traditional flowers. The leading states in the cut and loose flower production are as shown in the table.
According to a study titled, "Indian Floriculture Industry: The Way Ahead" released by the apex industry body ASSOCHAM, India's floriculture industry is growing at a compounded annual growth rate of about 30%, and is likely to cross Rs.8,000 crore mark by 2015. Currently, the floriculture industry in India is poised at about Rs.3,700 crore with a share of a meagre 0.61% in the global floriculture industry which is likely to reach 0.89% by 2015. During the last few years, taking an advantage of the incentives offered by the Government of India, a number of Floriculture units were established in India for producing and exporting flowers to the developed countries. Most of them are located near Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi and are getting the technical know-how from Dutch as well as Israeli Consultants. The country's first and the only Digital Flower Auction Centre is located in Bengaluru. Government of India has set up 60 AEZ (Agri Export Zones) among which 6 are related to flowers. They are as mentioned in the table.
IMPORTANCE OF FLORICULTURE IN INDIA
Floriculture is important from economic, aesthetic and social point of view.
1. ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW:
Floriculture is a fast emerging major venture in the world, especially as a potential money-spinner for many countries in world. Many flowers and ornamental plants are being grown for domestic as well as for 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, mums, orchids, tuberose, anthurium, lilium, gerbera etc. All these flowers fetch a high price in the market. Cut flower crops are suited for flower arrangements/decorations for bouquets preparation and for floral baskets, have increased substantially and its share of the total trade has also improved. The sale of loose flowers of jasmine, crossandra, marigold, china Aster, chrysanthemums, berlaria and gaillardia etc., are a roaring busyness 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 materials. Floriculture also generates self employment opportunities round the year.
2. AESTHETIC POINT OF VIEW:
Lot of scope for landscaping and is considered as billion dollar earning industry in states which ultimately adds the monitory value of any building/property. 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 build up 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, parts of plants, growing activity as tools to work.
3. SOCIAL POINT OF VIEW:
Flowers symbolize the purity, beauty, peace, love, adoration, innocence and passion etc. Hence, many flowers are used to express the most sensitive, delicate and loving feelings eloquently what our words fail to express. In our society no social function is complete without the use of flowers, floral ornaments, bouquets or flower arrangements they are invariably used in all social functions. To an Indian, especially for Hinduís, flowers have a much greater significance in religions offerings. It has estimated that more than 30-40 % of the total flower productions 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 the 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 Indians born with flowers live with flowers and finally dies with flowers.
SCOPE OF FLORICULTURE INDUSTRY IN INDIA
Day to day the area under floriculture in India is increasing. Many progressive farmers are entering in to the field of floriculture. When compared to other countries there are many favourable factors factors in our country which can boost up the flower production in our country indicating that there is a large scope for floriculture in India and thus we can call floriculture as a "Sun rise Industry In India".
The factors are as follows.
Varied and dynamic agro-climatic condition: India is blessed with varied and dynamic agro-climatic condition, good quality soil and water made suitable for floriculture.
Mild winters: 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 and Valentine's Day.
Availability of cheap labour: Labour cost is very low in India, nearly 10-15 times cheaper than that of similar employees in the Netherlands, Israel and Japan.
Thrust area at present: The Government of India has identified floriculture as extreme focus thrust area? for export during IX plan.
Decrease in import duty: With the implementation of GATT agreement European nations has brought down the import duty on floricultural products, which at present is 15 %.
Growth in the international market: The International market is growing @ 8- 10 % annually. The International demand is around Rs. 90,000 crore/ year and domestic market at 20-25 %. Hence, the scope to enter floriculture industry in India is unlimited.
Interventions of government: The Govt. of India has setup the infrastructure for floriculture industry in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune etc.
Easy bank financing: Banks in India are ready to finance the farmers who are involved in hi-tech floriculture.
Various schemes of the government: Government is implementing various schemes such as giving 100 per cent tax exemption on implements / raw materials used in greenhouses, minimising, the rules and regulations related to import and exports etc.
Earning more foreign exchange: Floriculture products possess 25 - 30 time more foreign exchange earning ability than cereals or any other agricultural/ horticultural products and floriculture is capable of attracting and retaining large number of progressive farmers/entrepreneurs.
Model Questions
1. Maximum area under floriculture in India is under which of the following crop?
a) Jasmine b) Tuberose c) Marigold d) Crossandra
Ans: c(Marigold)
2. How much is the approximate share of dried floricultural products in total floriculture export from India?
a) 60% b) 40% c) 30% d) 20%
Ans: a(60%)
3. Seeds of ornamental annuals for export are commercially being grown in open in which of the following state?
a) Maharashtra b) Tamilnadu c) Punjab d) Karnataka
Ans: c(Punjab)
4. Percapita consumption of cut flowers is highest in which of the following country?
a) India b) USA c) Switzerland d) Germany
Ans: c(Switzerland)
5. Which among the following states occupy the maximum acreage under floriculture in India at present ?
a) Tamilnadu b) Karnataka c) West Bengal d) Maharashtra
Ans: b(Karnataka)
