Pune, Feb 12: The approach towards floriculture in India has so far centred solely around the cultivation of cut-roses for exports, says JW van Heerde, director Asia, SoVitro Trading & Services, Aalsmeer, Pune. The Pune-based Dutch firm promotes diversification in floriculture. With complete turnkey projects and marketing arrangements, the company offers a broad range of cut-flower products.Van Heerde said that it is necessary that people realise the potential in open-field crops as well as several others which can be grown under shednet and green houses rather than focus on expensive methods of cultivation.
Most units have taken up rose cultivation exclusively. This approach has been one-sided and many other crops like orchids, gerbera, anthurium, carnations, and so on are ignored in the bargain. It has also led to a surplus supply situation, thus adversely affecting the price of the crop.
Quality is another factor which affects the status of cut-flowers in international markets.
The lax attitudeadopted towards quality standards has done much harm. This could be the reason for Indian floriculture exports amounting to only 0.5 per cent of the total exports in the world market, according to van Heerde.
He said that the Indian floriculturists need to experiment in other crops while maintaining one or two main crops, adding that there are numerous avenues where finance for floriculture projects is available like bankers, government agencies such as National Horticulture Bank (NHB), Nabard, Apeda and others.
However, it has been observed that people with limited or no prior experience or inclination squander the monetary assistance offered by these institutions. van Heerde said he was keen on introducing cut foliage, that is, palms and ferns which are popular in the West and therefore have a high export potential. The momentum for diversification is fast approaching. The potential of the sector is good and the business shows a growth rate of 7-10 per cent per annum. SoVitro Trading & Servicesrecently tied up with Boerma Institute (Holland) to impart floral design education as it is one aspect which has been neglected by most export-oriented growers in the development of the domestic market.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
