Flowers exports from the country have
increased by three-fold to Rs 649.84 crore in 2006-07 compared
to Rs 210.99 crore in the previous year, the government
said.
The demand for flowers in the domestic and international
market is increasing rapidly and "the export of floriculture
has increased from Rs 210.99 crore to Rs 649.84 crore during
the same period," Minister of State for Agriculture
Kanti Lal Bhuria told the Lok Sabha in a written reply on
Monday.
He said the government was taking all efforts to step up
production of flowers in the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing two centrally-sponsored
schemes for increasing production and productivity of horticultural
crops, which includes flowers.
Production of loose flowers has increased to 0.92 million
tons in 2006-07 from 0.66 million tons in the previous year,
while the cut flowers output rose to 3,290 million numbers
from 952 million numbers, he said.
Asked if Kenya and Ethiopia are producing better quality
flowers in comparison to Indian flowers, the minister said
"In the best growing season (November-February), quality
of Indian flowers is comparable to the Kenyan flowers in
the same segment".
He further said that some of the varieties grown in India
has been rated to be of high quality than their counterparts
growing the same variety in Kenya.
As Kenya enjoys a more stable climate, longer-growing period
flowers are more consistent in overall quality than Indian
flowers.
The minister said Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA) has however introduced
a scheme for recognition of floriculture units that covers
all the quality parameters for export.
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