Now no shortage of ‘roses’ on Valentines day

On Feb 4, 2019

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE: PUNE: As we step in the romantic month of gifts and roses, floweriest are prepping up for production of roses. According to a report, rose cultivators from Maval and surrounding areas of Pune district are expecting a 15-20 percent increase in revenue earned from rose exports following the bumper crop cultivation owing to the good winter season and increased production area.
Every farmer from Maval and surrounding areas of Pune district, cultivate rose flower and export them to western countries for Valentine’s day.
According to Praveen Sharma, president, Talegaon-based Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP), estimated that revenue earned from the export of rose in February 2019 is expected to touch Rs 30 crore as against Rs 23 crore earned in February 2018.
Sharma explained that the increase in production can be attributed to an increase in the allotted production area as well as a good winter season. A lot of farmers have turned to floriculture this year in place of traditional farming, as a result, we are hoping the revenue earned from export may cross Rs 30 crore mark this year.
Another side, Mukund Thakar, president of the Pavana Flower Growers Association, said, “This year government has resumed subsidy scheme under National Horticulture Mission, as a result, many farmers turned towards floriculture and hence this year rose was grown on 750 acres of land in Maval region only.”
According to the same report, Maval Taluka is a major floriculture hub for the cultivation of export quality flowers in the country is from Pune District. Rose varieties like ‘Top Secret’ constitute 80 percent of the total production, followed by ‘Revival’, and ‘Avalanche Rose’ which are the major growing varieties of roses in the Maval area.
By the end of November 2018, ISFP made Rs 24 crore from roses exported to the UK, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore followed by special orders for Valentine season by Gulf countries.
“The current price for Indian roses stand at Rs 1,100 for 18 stems in the UK. Premium rose varieties of 6 cm bud sizes and 70 cm stems fetch Rs 200 per rose in the UK market,” Sharma added.