Blooming business: Karnataka's flower industry has export potential globally

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka boasts an expanse dedicated to both traditional and commercial flower farming.

With approximately 38,000 hectares of traditional flowers and over 1,500 hectares under protected conditions, including greenhouses and shade nets, the state has become a hub for floriculture.

In the fiscal year 2022- 23, Karnataka's flower export industry recorded an achievement, with 1,882 metric tons of commercial flowers worth Rs 81.15 crores exported, as per statistics from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The commercial flower sector, encompassing varieties such as Rose, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Gypsophila, Carnation, Anthurium, Limonium, and others, has witnessed robust growth.

The International Flower Auction Bengaluru Limited (IFAB) serves as a prominent platform for auctioning highquality flowers, primarily Dutch Roses, which constitute approximately 95% of the transactions, with the remainder comprising Gypsophila, Chrysanthemum, BOP, among others.

IFAB reported transactions worth Rs 70 crores in the fiscal year 2022-23.

However, the industry faces certain challenges, including the withdrawal of the transport assistance scheme from APEDA, the imposition of 18% GST on freight charges since October 2022, the unavailability of the latest varieties, legal issues related to royalty for exports, and the absence of a dedicated flower market for commercial flowers in Bengaluru.

Major exports across the globe

Bengaluru Roses have garnered a reputation for their exceptional quality, extended shelf life, appealing appearance, and impressive bud size, making them sought after in both domestic and international markets.

These roses are exported to major countries such as Dubai, UAE, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and more. An interesting highlight from the flower industry in Bengaluru is the significant export during Valentine's Day in 2023.

Approximately 10.8 million stems of Red Roses, weighing 4.11 lakh kilos, were exported from Bengaluru airport to various destinations, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Kuwait, Manila, Auckland, New York, Maldives, Jordan, Dubai, and Lebanon, among others.

Recognising the immense potential for rose cultivation in Bengaluru due to favourable climatic conditions, soil quality, adequate rainfall, and advanced farming techniques, the Government of Karnataka announced a special scheme in the Budget 2023.

This scheme aims to promote the cultivation of new flower varieties by importing quality seeds, following intellectual property rights (IPR), and paying royalties.

Farmers in the state have already embraced the cultivation of new varieties.