CHAPTER IINTRODUCTION Flowers are the loveliest objects on earth. They instantaneously suggest beauty because they are associated with things that offer pleasure and delight. Our age old culture, paintings, art and craft, ideas, emotions, religion, philosophy and social customs exhibit their memory haunting association with flowers. In short they have played an important role in the course of human civilization and social development. Hence floriculture has assumed very great significance over the years. 1.1 Flowers and their Individuality Botanically speaking flowers form the reproductive organ of any plant. They can be borne singly or in aggregation called florescence. Female and male flowers may be located on separate plants or on the same plant. Flowers are symmetrical about an axis and are characterized by numerous spirally arranged floral parts. The floral parts are sepals, petals and stamens, 2 anther, pistil and the like borne on an elongated floral axis and attached below the ovary.1 The world would not be as beautiful as it is now but for flowers. For millions and millions of years there were no flowering plants. Evolution of flowering plants changed the very appearance of the world. Flowers in their range of color, size, form and anatomical arrangement, present a plethora of combinations. They range in size from minute blossoms to giant blooms.2 In some plants, such as poppy, magnolia, tulip, and petunia, each flower is relatively large and prominent and is produced singly, while in other plants, such as aster, snap dragon, calla lily, and lilac these individual flowers are relatively very small and are borne in a distinctive cluster known as florescence.3 Flowers are found in more than 2,00,000 different varieties in a wide spectrum of colours. Many flowers have odd or irregular shapes. In addition to their beauty, flowers also exude a pleasant smell. These qualities make them popular for decoration and as gift for birthdays and other functions and ceremonies. They are also considered as tokens of love. Flowers are 1 Modern Century Illustrial Encyclopedia – New York, Vol.6, 1972, McGraw-Hill For Eastern Publishers (P) Ltd., Australia, pp.805-806. 2 The Junior World Encyclopedia, Erosion to Geyser, Golden Press, New York, 1959, Book 6, pp.500 to 503. 3 The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005, Vol.4, pp.844-845. 3 planted and grown both inside and around homes, and there is also a wild growth of flowers everywhere in the world except the Polar Regions.4 Flowers may be costly or rare or cheap or in abundance but connoisseurs of flowers will always be wealthy in taste. Beautiful flowers are within reach of all. Flowers are so perfect in form and colour that they bring joy and solace to human beings.5 The flowers so far known to mankind could be classified into three groups according to their life span. They are annuals, biennials and perennials. 1.2 Annual Flowers Annual flowers are the ones, which need to be started from seed each year. Biennial flowers are those with a life of two years. Flowers like Foxglove, sweet William and some varieties of hollyhock are biennials. Perennial flowers are those that live for more than two growing seasons. All trees, shrubs, and bulbous plants are classed as woody perennials, while plants with no wood in their structure are herbaceous perennials such as peonies, iris, lilies and phlox. All cultivated flowers have been derived from the wild flowers. However, their infinite variety could be rightly attributed to the trail blazing and innovative researches which have been hitherto carried out in the field of 4 5 Modern Century Illustrated Encyclopedia, McGraw-Hill, For Eastern Publishers (P) Ltd., Australia, 1972, Vol.6, pp.805-806. The Wonder Land of Knowledge, The Pictorial Encyclopedia, Tangley Oaks Educational Center, Illinois, USA, 1961, pp.1526-1531. Certain flowering plants are known to have the power to move their leaves and other parts. which distinguish it from the stem and leaves. Plants are the only species in the Earth. Morning glories close when the sun grows bright.6 All flowering plants. It is worthwhile to remember that a gift of flowers for someone special provides a personal touch providing a source of 6 7 Ibid. so that it will lure insects in search of pollen and nectar. They convey different feelings and thoughts including that of love. London. 1950. barberry flowers raise their stamens at a touch and the sunflower turns on her God as he sets the same smile that she gave when he rose. They normally include weeds growing among cultivated plants and the so called garden escapes which as a result of seed dispersed have been transported to some natural habitat and proved sufficiently handy or sufficiently adaptable to survive the change. which flourish off the flower plantations maintained by farmers. which are able to convert the energy from the Sun into starch with the help of chlorophyll.4 breeding.7 Significance of Flowers in Real Life Flowers have a language of their own. pp. Ferments in flower seeds are believed to determine the colors of the blossom.749-750. George New Ones Limited. Chambers Encyclopaedia. . Vol. There is a belief that certain flowers convey cure capable of different feelings and making direct and indirect impacts on human lives. are called wild flowers.V. LILY OF THE VALLEY – Sweetness. No. Tear of the Virgin Mary. Beauty.8 This notion could be better understood from the following few examples. Jealousy OLEANDER – Caution ORCHID – Love. Purity.4.12. MARIGOLD – Cruelty. Secrecy and Silence SWEET PEA – Good – bye. CHRYSANTHE MUM (GENERAL) CHRYSANTHE MUM (WHITE) – Truth. Sorry I can’t be with you – You’re a wonderful friend. ASTER – symbol of love CACTUS – Endurance CARNATION (GENERAL) – Fascination. pp. Vol. Purity. Refusal. . Admiration. LILY (WHITE) – Virginity. CARNATION (STRIPED) – No.5 everlasting impression. ROSE (BRIDAL) – Happy Love ROSE (RED) – Love. September 2007. departure 8 Ashwani Sharma. Floriculture Today. women love CARNATION (PINK) – I’ll never forget you. DAISY – Innocence. Chinese symbol for many children. Majesty. I love you ROSE (WHITE) – Innocence and Purity. CARNATION (RED) – My heart Aches for you.110-116. “Meaning of Flowers”. Grief. Loyal love. Cocks Comb. public functions and personal adornments. Traditional flower growers are mostly small and marginal farmers. Tulsi. they could be explained as follows. It is a typical flower which is known for its fragrance. Aster. The other traditionally cultivated flowers are Marigold. Chrysanthemum. Nerium. deserves special mention.3.3 Types of Commercial Floriculture In India there are two types of commercial floriculture. Lotus. 1. It is used mostly by women for hair decorations. social occasions.6 TULIP (RED) – Believe me. festivals. There are two varieties of marigold. Declaration ZINNIA (YELLOW) – Daily Remembrance ZINNIA (WHITE) – Goodness. Crossandra. Traditional flowers such as the rose. 1. They are the local marigold and the African marigold. It is followed by Jasmine. Most of the traditional flowers are used for making garlands. Bachelors Button. marigold. It is produced in plenty in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the .1 Traditionally Cultivated Flowers Traditional flowers are those that are cultivated under open field conditions. These flowers are meant for worship. Among the traditional flower crops. jasmine and the tuberose could be used for the production of oil and perfumes as well. Scented green. Merjoram. Modern cut flowers which could be identified by their long stems and used in bouquets and for other decoration purposes. and Garde Henkle First prizes are still popular. The rose is the principal cut flower grown all over the country. the lilies. with the growth of exports. the orchids. Super Star Montezuma. 1998. pp. Propheyta.7 south and West Bengal in the east. It is very important to bear in mind that modern cut flowers include the rose. Papa Meiland. 10 . Ravel. Cut Flower Production in India. Kiss of Fire. In recent times. Eiffel tower. Virsilia. Tineka.G. Golden Giant. the gerbera and the like. Sacha. are sold as loose flowers. Usually local varieties akin to the grussEn tepelitZ. It cannot be deemed that old rose varieties like Queen Elizabeth. R. the tuberose. Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Karnataka. Narendra K.10 9 Desai.3.9 1. Dadlani.2 Modern Cut Flowers Modern cut flowers are those that are cultivated under controlled conditions in poly houses or green houses. the carnation. Himalaya Publishing House. KAP Publications. Delhi. the gladiolus.85-90. Christian Dior. Grand Gala. Konfitti. A larger percentage of the area in many states is used for growing scented rose. even though in terms of total area. They are used mostly at places of worship. Noblesse. Crossandra and Aster form the remaining two varieties of traditional flowers which are cultivated in vast areas in certain parts of Tamil Nadu.. the latest varieties like first red. Delhi. Economics of Floriculture. Pareo. Vivaldi and the like are also being grown commercially. it may not be so.10-18. 2004. pp. the anthurium. Haryana. particularly in the north eastern region. Oncidiums. besides parts of the southern states of Kerala. Vanda. Tuberose. . a very popular cut flower crop in India is grown mainly in the eastern part of the country i. with improved agro-economic techniques and better management. Both single and double flower varieties are equally popular. Tuberose flowers are also sold loose in some areas for preparing garlands and wreaths. West Bengal.4 Role of Flowers Flowers have a significant role to play in our daily lives.8 Gladiolus is the next most important cut flower crop grown in the country. Utter Pradesh. This still continues to supply the planting material to most parts of the county. The other main cut flower item is orchid. the northern parts of Delhi. and cymbidiums. Paphiopedilums. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Phalaenopsis.e. Earlier it was considered a crop for the temperate regions and its cultivation was restricted to hilly areas. The main species grown are Dendrobiums. and also in northern plains and parts of south. as well as Maharashtra and Karnataka have emerged as the major areas for production of gladiolus. Its production is mainly restricted in the northeastern Hill regions. However. Punjab. 1. Flowers have been associated with mankind since time immemorial and intimately woven into the daily life. Floriculture helps in enriching the quality of life and the development of our society through its impact on environment. From birth to death flowers are extensively used in our rituals or etiquettes. culture. As an advanced science it is playing an important role in the course of human civilization and its social development.9 Flowers and leaves freshen the air and so they are good. Flowers are an inexpensive means of beautifying ones house or its surroundings. There is no denying the fact that floriculture is an ancient art. paintings. They provide charm and happiness and help to forget the dreariness and monotony of life.5 Floriculture and Quality of Life Nature and plants are interwoven into the subconscious mind of the human being. It is believed that flowers give peace of mind. Fresh flowers thus give happiness. Flowers are used as a status symbol of every home and garden and to convey messages of love and as memorials of the departed. patience and strength during difficulties. But no one cares for dry flowers. arts . They impress the mind and teach us how life is like them. Fragrance of flowers like jasmine and rose freshen the tired brain. Flowers elevate one’s moods to get rid of the ennui associated with loneliness and lack of interest in the everyday life. 1. emotions. Some flowering plants also develop biochemical defense mechanisms. religions.6 Floriculture and Pollution Control Rapid and uncontrolled industrialization. pp. There is an undesirable increase in the concentration of poisonous and unhealthy gases like carbon dioxide. everincreasing vehicular traffic and decrease in natural vegetation have all contributed to pollute the environment. Global warming and other health hazards are a by-product of the above phenomena. which enable them to 11 Bhattacharjee. carbon monoxide. S. A garden is a source of inspiration and a symbol of virtue for poets and for artists to represent relationship between nature and mankind. philosophy and social customs as seen in the foregoing paragraphs. sulfur dioxide due to excessive burning of carbonaceous fuels in industry and transport which results in polluting the air we breathe. . literature. “Periurban Floriculture and Quality of Life”.11 1.10 and craft. Indian Horticulture.37-40. ideas. urbanization. JanuaryMarch 2001. Plants have modified themselves morphologically to absorb the pollutants and provide us clean environment. Various trees and flowering plants have been grown to check environmental pollution. It is a built-in environment of living spaces with artificial and natural components to fulfill the physical and spiritual needs of human beings..K. 33-35. Bougainvillea is the most ideally suited plant for urban and rural landscaping especially for industrial areas with its exemplary qualities of being drought and pollution resistant. Bottle Palm. Trees with profuse branching and hairy large size leaves help in trapping the dust. The specialty of a syngonium tree is that it attracts the dust particles in the house. pp. Banyan.. Indian Horticulture. 13 Anoop Kumar et al. Among trees of the same category.L. Bougainvillea. Plumeria and Popler can be quoted as examples with the added advantage of being considered holy and helpful in controlling pollution..7 The Psychological. Vol. kachnar.6. Philodendron. p. “Role of Horticulture in Controlling Environmental Pollution in India”. January-March 2001. Kisan World. “Horticulture in Controlling Pollution”.25. June 1998.. Dracaena. Ashoka tree. induces a sense of satisfaction in life and positively affects social behavior in scales far beyond what is normally 12 Chadha. Chinese rain tree. Emotional and Behavioral Benefits of Floriculture In the path breaking and exiting academic research conducted between the years 2000 and 2005 in the USA the findings are that flowers leave immediate and long-term positive effects on emotional reactions. to name a few. K. . The presence of flowers triggers emotional happiness.11 detoxify the harmful chemicals. Marigold.12 Some of the pollution–fighting plants are Rose. Chrysanthemum. No.13 1. kadan. et al. Syngonium. Tulsi. mood and social behaviors of individuals and also assist in enhancing the memory of people irrespective of their sex be it male or female. Bottle Brush.63. S. Several fragrant flowers used for the worship of Gods are mentioned in the Ancient Sangam Tamil literature.98-102.8 Flowers in Religion In India a sizable percentage of flowers produced are used for the worship of Gods. These studies demonstrate how people feel more compassionate towards others and likely to have less worry and anxiety.12 imagined.14 In a recent empirical study on flowers in the workplace. pp. As it has been pointed in PATHTHU PATTU women worship Gods by offering PUJA with a mixture of flowers and paddy. The Tamil word Poosai or puja has been derived from the root word poo (Flower) mainly offered for the performance of puja. A study on the influence of flowers on senior citizens showed many benefits including lifting their morale and improving memory. and feel less depressed when fresh flowers are present at home. The most common flowers they used for worship were: Aambal 14 Mohammed Mustaq. 1. inspire social networking and refresh memory. .4. researchers here found out that brainstorming of worker’s creative performance and problem-solving skills improve substantially in workplace environments that include flowers and their plants. September 2007. It has also been found out that flowers can play a significant role in improving home ecology as well. Vol. Potential and Prospects”. “U. No. Floriculture Size. Floriculture Today.12. It demonstrated that flowers ease depression. M. The earliest literature of Tamil is Perumbanaautrupadai which describes creator Brahma who always stayed in the Lotus flower and Paththu pattu describes Lord Tirumaal always wears the garlands made by Tulsi leaves (sacred basil) Kalithogai one of the Ettuthogai mentions that the Goddess Tirumagal always stood in the Lotus flower.9 Dry Flower – A Profitable Floriculture Industry Dry flowers are natural flowers. They are used for various decoration purposes.16 15 Amirthalingam.. Erukku Kuvalai (Morning bloom water lily). Kisan World. Kandhal (malabar glory lily) and Kadambu (Indian Oak). Vol. 16 Rengasamy et al.10.23. flower balls. . pp. Lord Siva always used to wear the garland made by the flowers of kontrai tree (Indian laburnum). “Flower Worship in Tamil Literature”. festival decoration. pp. florescence and pods are dried and preserved so that they can have lasting value. June 1996.15 1. No.39-40.26. greeting cards.61-62.. in bouquets. Karareeram (Red oleander and cetchai (Scarlet Ixora) are used while worshiping Lord Muruga. “Dry Flowers – A Profitable Floriculture Industry”.6. People believe that different flowers could be used to propitiate different Gods. sweet smelling potpourri and many items of aesthetic importance. Kisan World. pomanders. Vol. creating flower pictures. flower arrangements. No.13 (water lily/ pilhigam (Large flowered Jasmine. Flowers such as Kandhal. Their leaves. October 1999. Kanakambaram (Crossandra). Kadambu. Rose.28.14 Flowers can be dried at home by various methods. Dry flower craft is labour intensive. Dried flowers worth more than 100 crores are exported annually from India. Japan and Singapore. Aster.10.28. Netherlands. concrete is obtained from Jasmine. Marigold. p. eco-friendly and biodegradable. U.17 Dry flowers are generally cheap. Good field sanitation and cleanliness among the labourers involved 17 18 Raghupathy et al.5. Germany. Sujatha A.18 India has emerged as a leading country in the export of dried flowers. “Dry Flower Industry in Andaman”. Dry flower industry would be a definite money-spinner due to the demand for such products. p. The various flowers that can be used for drying are chrysanthemum. Vol. “Dried Flowers – Significance”. October 2001. Gomphrena to name a few. . 1.39. Dahlia. Kisan World. Bongainvillea. Zinnia. Italy. Kisan World. Gerbera.K.. Any entrepreneur especially the unemployed women and youth can start the industry of drying flowers on a small scale.S. Nair et al.27.A. Limonium carnation.10 Floral Oil Industry The floral oil.. They can survive the heat of summer and cold of winter. India exports dry flowers to U. Rose and Tuberose. May 2000. The different drying techniques are (i) Air Drying (ii) Oven Drying (iii) By using Desiccants (iv) By Pressing the Flowers and Foliage. Vol. No. No. The oil is useful in imparting rose-like aroma to a wide variety of soaps. USA and Japan. Jasmine oil is added to blend with every floral scent and hence extensively used as an important perfumery throughout the world. 19 Ashok et al. The major centers for the floral oil business include Europe. . “Floral Oil Industry”.11. Kisan World. p.15 in the harvesting of the flower increases the recovery percentage of concrete. The Arabs were the first to use the technique of extraction of oil from rose. No. concrete and absolute which constitute the major raw materials for perfumery and cosmetic industries. Tuberose oil is one of the most expensive raw materials used in perfumery industry..26. tobacco products and the like. The single flower tuberose variety gives more oil than the double flower variety. which consume 90 percent of the global production of floral oil. Rose oil and Rose water has its applications from time immemorial. The Palma rosa oil is one of the most important essential oil of India and is exported.71. It is used as base for fine perfumery and is valued because of the geraniol content. Vol. November 1999.19 The Palma rosa oil is obtained from flowering shoot and parts above the ground of the aromatic grass cymbopogon merthini var motia. The major floriculture exports include the sizeable amount of foreign exchange earned by the essential oils. . The recent resurgence of plant remedies results from the effectiveness of plant medicines compared to harmful side effects of most modern drugs.7. Plant Hortitech. A brief description of certain flowers their seasons and medicinal values can be seen from the following table.5.34-36. No.16 1.20 20 Beena Thomas and C. “Orchids of Medicinal Importance”. It has been confirmed by World Health Organization that herbal medicines serve the health needs of about 80% of world’s population.11 Flowers of Medicinal Importance In recent years the indigenous system of medicine particularly Ayurveda is attracting modern scientists for finding cures for many challenging diseases. Vol. Lekha Rani. especially for millions of people in the vast rural areas of developing countries. October-December 2007. pp. . asthma and mania. Plant juice is stomachic and laxative Tubers are used as vermifuge Tubers are used to treat bronchitis and diseases of blood.1 FLOWERS – THEIR SEASONS AND MEDICINAL VALUES Sl. It is applied as poultice to boils. “Orchids of Medicinal Importance”. Luisia tenuifolia Yellowish with purple tinge. March-April February-March Medicinal Use Plant is used as a tonic and in the treatment of rheumatism. No. The juice from the pod is used against ear ache. Vanda spathulata Golden yellow October-November 9 Vasda tessellate Yellowish tessellated with brown April-May 10. pp. burning sensation.7. Name Acampe praemorsa Flower Type and Flowering Time Colour Yellow with red stripes lip is white March – June with red stripes. Plant Hortitech. No. Dendrobium ovatum White with pinkish tinge March-April 4 Eulophia epidendrea Greenish white October-December 5 Eulophia nuda Greenish purple February-April 6 Elichingeria macrei White or Pinkish Periodically 7 Satyrium nepalense Pink or white August-September 8. 1. fever. Plant is emollient.17 TABLE No. Tuberous roots are used in the preparation of tonic. The plant is used in the treatment of asthma. Root is alerciteric and antipyretic external application in nervous disorders and rheumatism. Flowers are given against consumption. Lekha Rani. SOURCE: Beena Thomas and C. 2 Cymbidium aloifolium Yellowish red 3.34-36. 1. Vol.5. October-December 2007. France. “Floriculture and Exports”. U K. U K. Kisan World. December 2008. U S A and Japan. Karnataka.12.K is also increasing. Italy and France..K. . The Netherlands consumes 50 per cent of our total exports demand from the U. After liberalisation the Government of India identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100 percent export oriented status. U S A. Newer market’s in Asia like Singapore are also opening for Indian flowers.13-15. Vol. Japan.18 1. Tamil Nadu.. Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have emerged as major floriculture centers in recent times.3 percent. The major importers of live plants. U A E. and Sridevi. Netherlands. No. pp. There has been a significance rise in the floriculture exports.. The liberalised economy has given an impetus to the Indian entrepreneurs for establishing export oriented floriculture units under controlled climatic conditions.35. 21 Jeevitha. Indian exports are mainly to European countries including the Netherlands.12 Flower Exports from India Indian floriculture industry has been shifting from traditional flowers to cut flowers for export purposes.21 India’s share in the global cut flowers trade in 1995 was a mere 0. U. Germany. E. and bulbs are Germany. France. India’s share in the world floriculture is negligible. In India Maharastra. The major importers of cut flowers are Germany. K. Italy. Italy. 1997-1998 8121. 2004-2005 27900. 1995-1996 6041.00 9. 2000-2001 19063. 1989-1990 675. New Delhi.00 14. 2002-2003 22650. But many of them operate 50 percent of their capacity with redressal of their problems. the floriculture industry thus may turn to be viable enterprise for earning foreign exchange.00 12.00 7. 1998-1999 9661. 1990-1991 786. 1991-1992 1480. 1994-1995 3084.2 INDIA’S EXPORT OF FLORICULTURE PRODUCTS Sl.00 4.19 More than 300 export oriented units (EOUs) have been approved in the sector out of which 255 units are operational. 1. 2001-2002 21370. 1.00 Year Value (Rs.00 5. in Lakhs) 18. 1999-2000 13726. 1993-1994 1884.00 16.00 SOURCE: Export Statistics for Agro and Food Products APEDA. No.00 2.00 17. TABLE No. 2006-2007 39000.00 8. 2003-2004 25600. 1996-1997 6340.00 6.00 15.00 11.00 13.00 3.00 10. 2005-2006 30500. . 1992-1993 1491. 20 1.. July-September 1997. pp. “Floriculture: An Emerging Industry in India”.. Italy.10. but not any other commodity” said Manmohan Singh. No. 23 Money. 18. India can also emerge as a leading exporter of flowers if floriculture is given the place it deserves in the general scheme of things. Netherlands enjoy the pride of place among these chief exporters. Israel and Kenya. the Prime Minister of India. “National Mission Floriculture 2010”.80 crores in 1995-96 to Rs. Columbia. They are likely to go up by 25 to 30 percent and reach an all time high of Rs. Now floriculture has become one of the extreme focus segments for development of export by the Government of India. 96. No. p.4.42. 24 Abdul Kalam. Rs. Floriculture Today. .60 crores in 1994-95.P.3. “India can become a major exporter of flowers. August 2007.6 crores earnings in 1998-99. Vol. Economic Times.2007.2.23 Among the leading exporters of flowers those who deserve a special mention would include Netherlands.22 As Agriculture and Processed Food Product Development Authority chairman has pointed out floricultural exports from the country stood at Rs. 30. “Flower Power”.381 crore in 2006-2007. K.000 crores in the next five years. A.24 22 Brijendra Singh. Vol.12.J.47-49. 57.20. The growth of floriculture industry from 1962 to 1999 was very slow but thereafter there has been a significant rise in floricultural export from Rs. Indian Horticulture.55 crores in 1991-92. Rs. 14.13 Export Potential of India Floricultural crops are very important for exports. plant protection and post harvest management. include rose. Delhi. In recent years. however. in the horticulture/floriculture departments of State Agricultural Universities and under the All India Coordinated Floriculture Improvement Project with a network of about twenty (20) centers. marigold etc. technologies for protected cultivation and tissue culture for mass propagation have also received attention. In view of the fact that most of the cut flower production is being done under open field conditions. the research efforts generally relate to open cultivation. as well as garden display have been developed.21 1. orchid. The thrust till recently has been on crop improvement.14 Research on Floriculture Research work on floriculture is being carried out at several research institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.85-90. standardization of agrotechniques including improved propagation methods. 1998. The crops.25 25 Narendra K. KAP Publication. tuberose. particularly the agronomic requirements and control methods for important diseases and insect pests have also been developed. aster. Dadlani. Production technology. gladiolus. jasmine. Cut Flower Production in India. A large number of varieties suitable for cut flower use. pp. which have received larger attention. . In India’s contribution by the private sector in research activities in floriculture is negligible. chrysanthemum. Big Hospitals. exhibition and conference organizers are consuming flowers for decoration purposes giving another dimension to this “blooming” sector. No. film makers. pp. K. The information on the area under floriculture and the production achieved is highly inadequate. All private banks.35.15 The Scope of Floriculture The scope of floriculture is next only to the Information Technology Industry all over the world and this is growing by leaps and bounds. corporate houses. and Sridevi. India’s record of commercial activities in this field is not very encouraging indeed.22 1. December 2008. The total business of 26 Jeevitha.. political parties. Weddings big or small scale. .16 Indian Floriculture Industry Present Status In spite of its long and close association with floriculture. It is alarming to see that it is still in its infancy.. E.26 1. In most part of the country flower growing is carried out on smallholdings.12. As commercial and scientifically managed floriculture is an activity only of a recent origin there are not many large farms engaged in organized floriculture. Floriculture is not just a business but is also a perennial source of income. “Floriculture and Exports”. Vol.13-15. Kisan World. mainly as a part of the regular agriculture systems. event management companies are using flowers in their offices. Floriculture is a very dynamic market today. 27 Floriculture in India is being viewed as a high growth Industry. The liberalization of industrial and trade polices paved the way for development of export oriented production of cut flowers. Agribusiness Information Centre. New Delhi.16.10.000 hectares in 2005-2006 and further to 1. . Agriculture and Processed food product Export Development Authority (APEDA) responsible for export promotion and development of floriculture in India grants subsidies for establishing cold storages. 1.000 hectares in 200627 FICCI Report 2008.117 lakh by April 2006.8174 lakh while it increased to Rs.17 Flower Production Areas in India According to the Economic Survey (2007-2008) the acreage under flower cultivation has increased from 1.23 floriculture products in India was Rs.000 hectares in 2004-2005 to 1.46. It has been found that commercial floriculture has higher potential per unit area than most of the field crops and is therefore a lucrative business. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material of international varieties. precooling units.54. The government of India offers tax benefits to new export oriented floriculture companies in the form of income tax holidays and exemption from certain import duties. refrigerated vans and green houses and air freight subsidy to exports. Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle. Business Standard. More than two thirds of this area is devoted for production of traditional flowers. however. West Bengal in the East. chrysanthemum. orchids and more recently liliums. This perhaps is the reason for unrealistically small areas under flower growing reported for a state which is known for its floricultural activity like Maharashtra. tuberose. gladiolus. with growing affluence and the trend of using flowers as gifts. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the South. Maharashtra in the West and Rajasthan. 28 Surinder Sud. “Ready to Bloom”. which are marketed as loose flowers e. merjoram and the like. tuberose nerium. be mentioned that it is extremely difficult to compute the statistics of the area in view of the very small sizes of the holdings. marigold. .g.28 The major flower growing states are Karnataka.24 2007. aster. gerbera. chrysanthemum.2008.03. crossandra. 25. Utter Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It must. which very often go unreported. jasmine. carnation. The area under cut flower crops (with stems) used for bouquets. gypsophila and the like. Delhi and Haryana in the North. arrangements and the like has grown in recent years. The major flowers in this category are rose. .86. Protected cultivation of flowers has 29 Surinder Sud. 1. chrysanthemum. It may be mentioned that almost all of the area reported here is under open field cultivation of flowers. the estimates could be at variance from the actual figures as some of the flowers like rose.55. No.03.952 According to Economic Survey (2007-2008) the production of flowers is estimated to have spurted from 6.060 1.565 2. Vol.000 tones of loose flowers and over 2100 million cut flowers with stem in 2006-2007. Year Cut (Million) 555 519 537 615 622 643 681 804 2.3 AREA AND PRODUCTION OF FLOWERS IN INDIA Area Production (‘000 ha) Loose (‘000 MT) 1993-1994 53 233 1994-1995 60 261 1995-1996 82 334 1996-1997 71 366 1997-1998 74 366 1998-1999 74 419 1999-2000 89 509 2000-2001 98 556 2001-2002 106 535 2002-2003 70 735 2003-2004 101 580 2004-2005 116 655 SOURCE: Kisan World. 25. “Ready to Bloom”.29 In the case of production also.35.14.2008.25 TABLE No.000 tones by 2004-2005 to over 8.12. Business Standard. December 2008.793 1. and tuberose are used both as loose flowers and cut flowers with stem. p. Nearly one third of over 200 proposed projects. pp. Vol. More than 90 percent of these units are for rose production.788 hectares under floriculture with annual production of 1.26 been taken up only in recent years for production of cut flowers for exports. Sridevi.35.18 lakh tones. December 2008. on an average size of 3-hectare farm. in view of cheap land. labour and other resources. several export-oriented units are being set up in the country. employment.30 Flower cultivation in 30 Jeevitha and K.56 lakh tonnes. while some projects for orchid. are coming up in technical collaboration with expertise mainly from Holland and Israel. Bangalore (Karnataka) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) in the South.12. The below table shows that Tamil Nadu is the top flower producing state in India due to its conductive climate for floriculture. 1. income and export. gladiolus and carnation are also being set up. No. . Now it is increased to 24641 hectares under floriculture with annual production of 1. The estimated area under production in this category is about 500 hectares. “Floriculture and Exports”. and Delhi in the North. anthurium.13-15. located in clusters around Pune (Maharashtra) in the West.18 Floriculture in Tamil Nadu Floriculture is a blossoming industry in Tamil Nadu. These projects. have already commenced production and export of its products. It has tremendous potential for growth in terms of production. In 1997-98 Tamil Nadu had about 16. Kisan World. Recognising the potential for low cost production for export. Economics of Floriculture. Vol.G.30-34. the share of Jasmine.27 Tamil Nadu accounts for 2.30 Maharashtra 29.80 Delhi 25.67% respectively in Tamil Nadu.. 3. Cultivation of cut flowers commercially under glass houses has been taken up in Tamil Nadu since 1993.4 and 1.15. .2 per cent of the total area under horticultural crops. R. 1.77 Andhra Pradesh 121. Himalaya Publishing House. December 2008. pp.12.40 Punjab 2.1.3.70 Karnataka 138. No.1. 10. crossandra.3.4 FLOWER PRODUCING STATES States Tones Tamil Nadu 156. chrysanthemum. 16. TABLE No. 11. p.2. rose (not cut flower) marigold.30 West Bengal 31. 2004.70 SOURCE: Kisan World. New Delhi. 8.31 On the basis of climatic condition and scope for raising flowers.00 Haryana 17.35. tuberose and others arc 49. Of the traditional flowers.90 Uttar Pradesh 3. Tamil Nadu has been divided into seven zones for purposes of effective 31 Desai. and grasses are utilized to make different designs in dry flower arrangements. Sivagangai taluk of Sivagenga district and Mandapam taluk of Ramanathapuram district. Chennai zone (Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur district) 3.28 development of floriculture under the commercial Floriculture policy. There is already a well-developed dry flower industry in Tamil Nadu. A Number of tropical flowers. Tiruchirapalli Zone (Manapparai Taluk) Hosur. Tanflora is the Hosur-based Park which currently produces 3 million cut red rose stems a year. Kairyan at Lagiri Hills) 4. 5. the country’s first agri-zone (AEZ) for cut roses in Tamil Nadu exported one million cut red rose stems to Europe in 2006-2007. They are. Arupukottari taluk of Virudunagar District. Kanyakumari and Coimbatore Zones have been identified as potential areas for cut flowers production. Dry flower units are located in Tuticorin which has a good potential for improving the dry flower industry. Madurai Zone (Madurai and Dindigual Districts. Yercaud. Kanyakumari Zone (Kanyakumari district and Tenkasi Taluk in Tirunelveli District. Hill Area Zone (Nilgiris. Coimbatore Zone (Coimbatore and Erode Districts) 7. foliages. Chennai Hill area. Kodaikanal. 1. Tanflora Infrastructure Park. Hosur Zone (Hosur and Denkanikottai Taluk of Dharmapuri district) 2. plans to raise capacity to 40 million stems in . 6. “Tanflore Exports 1 Mn Cut Roses to Europe”. Department of Economics and Statistics. 07.2007. 2001-2002 19084 8. 2005-2006 23567 Area (ha) 12. 2002-2003 17676 9. . Year 1. 2006-2007 24641 SOURCE: Season and Crop Report of Tamil Nadu. TABLE No.5 FLOWER PRODUCTION IN TAMIL NADU (Area in Hectare) Sl. 1999-2000 18120 6. This will make it the fourth largest rose stem producer in the world. 1. 32 Anil Urs. No.29 2007-2008 and 70 million stems by 2008-2009.32 The statistical details contained in the following two tables would facilitate a clear understanding about the flower production potentials of Tamil Nadu. Business Standard. 1996-1997 15879 3.03. Chennai. 2000-2001 18720 7. 1997-1998 16788 4. 1998-1999 17750 5. 2003-2004 20274 10. 1995-1996 14635 2. 2004-2005 23233 11. 28. Department of Economics and Statistics. 6. 15.6 FLOWER PRODUCTION AREA IN TAMIL NADU (DISTRICT WISE) (2006-2007) 1001 250 0 89 Sendumalli 165 589 81 454 11 Vadamalli 1051 Tube Rose 0 127 922 135 182 730 435 555 54 430 745 193 879 416 128 56 165 43 7 233 Marygold 0 32 22 97 83 136 134 52 5 262 58 15 32 82 8 0 7 11 0 1 9 31 218 0 11 0 19 31 0 29 Kozhikondai 0 3 2 19 1 363 79 31 0 90 53 136 6 48 3 1 1 5 0 0 12 0 74 0 0 0 19 1 0 60 Arali Chennai Kancheepuram Thiruvallur Cuddalore Villupuram Vellore Thiruvannamalai Salem Namakkal Dharmapuri Krishnagiri Coimbatore Erode Tiruchirappalli Karur Perambalur Pudukottai Thanjavur Thiruvarur Nagapattinam Madurai Theni Dindugal Ramanathapuram Virudhunagar Sivagangai Tirunelveli Thoothukudi The Nilgiris Kanyakumari Chevanthi 0 35 182 21 10 103 43 49 1 119 321 27 6 37 42 0 44 86 5 0 94 13 345 0 29 0 79 29 4 31 District Jasmine Crosandra 1. 1. 20. Chennai-600 006. 3. 23. 4. 5. 18. 26. 11. 29. 12. 25. 9. Rose (Area in ha) 0 2 0 1 0 39 27 62 17 12 19 33 2 168 1 6 18 19 0 0 45 62 215 0 24 1 17 30 0 26 0 5 0 0 2 0 46 125 18 5 22 6 1 29 4 1 3 0 0 0 24 5 749 0 24 0 54 32 0 30 0 1 0 0 25 0 17 15 0 0 4 34 4 19 1 18 0 0 0 0 20 0 33 0 2 0 3 5 0 8 0 6 1 0 0 4 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 37 0 0 42 0 35 53 16 29 9 617 5 1 116 3 29 16 48 7 1 3 0 0 0 89 0 187 0 0 0 217 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 58 2 0 23 0 0 0 0 4 17 19 0 4 15 5 23 136 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 11 0 6 SOURCE: Season and Crop Report of Tamil Nadu 2006-2007. 17. 24. 2. . 19. 27. 30. 10. No. 22. 13. 14. 8. 7. 21. Jathimalli Sl.30 TABLE No. 16. 20 Production of flowers in Thovalai The weather. Flower cultivation is the primary occupation in this village as more than 80 percent of the people are actively involved in activities such as cultivation. The flowers produced in and around Thovalai include are Jasmine (Pitchi). distribution. Marigold (Krenthi). Bachalors Button (Vadamalli).19 Floriculture in Thovalai Thovalai has been identified as a fabled centre for the production and marketing of flowers. garland making and marketing. The then Travancore king identified this area as suitable for flower cultivation and different kinds of flowers were produced and distributed to various parts of erstwhile Travancore state especially Padmanabha Temple at Thiruvananthapuram and Iyyappan Temple at Sabarimala for offering to the local deities. Rose. People believe that flower production was started in the early eighteenth century in Thovalai. Plucking of these flowers . No wonder Thovalai is treated for all practical and purposes as a centre for the abode of the aroma of flowers. Merjoram (Marikolunthu). soil and Water conditions at Thovalai are suitable for the production of flowers. Nerium (Arali) Crossandra (Kanakambaram). Chrysanthemum (Chevanthi). 1. Sacred basil (Tulsi). harvesting. Jasmine (Malligai).31 1. Cocks comb (Kolikondai) Scented Green (Pachi) Tuberose (Champanki). Though Thovalai is known for flower production since time immemorial it still maintains its uniqueness in the flower industry in the southern part of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. cold storage. the flower market in Thovalai still remains under developed. Youngsters. In spite of all these.M.32 starts early in the morning around 5. in spite of the . In the absence of cold storage facilities and seasoning facilities. The obvious concomitant effect has been appalling price fluctuations in Thovalai. The demand for flower is increasing day by day. fragrance and export value. There is no special area earmarked for a flower market in Thovalai. Further. 1. Consequently flowers are bought from local producers and sent to Trivandrum by fast moving vehicles equipped with facilities for cold storage.30 to 8. within three hours from 5.21 The Research Problem Thovalai has been a renowned centre for flower production. water taps. This trend very often flay in the face of flower producers in Thovalai. beauty.m. There is no protection from rain or shine for the traders. elders and school children irrespective of their age or occupation are engaged in this work.00 a. proper toilets. The present flower market is operating at a place covering area of 25 cents devoid of facilities like electricity. It dampens their interest resulting in unavoidable slumps in flower production. weighing arrangements and waiting sheds.30 A. The flower it produces are without parallel in variety. it has been found very difficult to protect flowers from dehydration. . Green houses are nothing but covered structures in transparent materials which facilitate flower production under a controlled environment.33 popularity gained by Thovalai for the production and marketing of flowers. no effort has so far been made to introduce new technologies like shade-Net cultivation and the Green House Technology that have been used effectively in foreign countries. The investigator is very much burdened by this problem. He seeks to delve deep into this problem as a prelude to script a new chapter in the industry of floriculture in Thovalai.