Come February 14, the Valentine’s Day, the Bengaluru roses bloom for the European love. Bengaluru the cut flower capital of India is all set to export five million stems for this year’s Valentine’s Day to Europe and other continents. Bengaluru roses have been part of the expression of love in Europe, Far East and Middle East.
According to South India Floriculture Association, based in Bengaluru, the Capital has already started export of Taj Mahal’, ‘First Red’ and ‘Grand Gala’ varieties that are said to be the best in India. According to Jayaprakash Rao of South India Floricultural Association, more than five million roses from the city are expected to be exported to many countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, ahead of Valentine’s Day.
“We hope to export around five million stems to various countries,” Rao said. According to Rao production of roses had increased by 20 per cent and this had caused a slight dip in the prices. “However, the difference in prices is marginal and farmers will be able to make it up as Valentine’s Day coincides with the wedding season here. During the wedding season, demand for roses increases,” he added. The domestic market is also growing and the farmers are happy to realise the potential domestic market.
Many variety of roses are grown in and around Bengaluru, especially in the Hosur and Doddaballapur belt. While there are around 15 exporters, there are over 50 growers with mid-sized farms and nearly 75 small and marginal farmers who grow roses.
Ramakrishna Karuturi, chairman & managing director, Karuturi Networks, the country’s largest flower grower and exporter, says exports volumes have gone up by 25 per cent while prices by 40 per cent.
Karuturi alone accounts for 10 per cent of the global Valentine’s Day market. It shipped out over a million rose stems from Bengaluru, 20 million from Kenya and 7 million stems from Ethiopia to Japan, Singapore, the Middle East, Russia, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Taiwan, Holland, Germany, Spain and China.
The roses grown in Bengaluru in an elevation of 1,000 metres from sea level are the best in the entire south East Asia and therefore most sought after flower variety in global markets.