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| BLOOMING TRADE: NOT A BED OF ROSES | | | DR. PRAGYA KHANNA | 12/15/2011 12:11:23 AM |
| Flowers bring delight to the sick, quiet to a squabble, and color to a winter day. A deep purple, bright red or brilliant orange can uplift the soul upon a gaze. People present flowers to the loved ones on special occasions, like wedding, ceremonies, festivals, funerals, to the sick and ailing etc. because flowers strengthen the feelings of compassion, love, affection and decrease nervousness and worry. Flowers also express thoughts of cheerfulness, thankfulness, apology, encouragement. There are many things that can be said with flowers.
Sitting pretty on the heavy buns on women’s heads may be the best decorative use of flowers, but not the only one. They are an integral part of any home, apartment or office, except the decorative properties flowers bear esthetic pleasure and curative effect. Floral offerings are common to almost all religious celebrations. In Hinduism there are even specific flowers for various gods and goddesses: lotus for Lakshmi, red hibiscus for Kali, dhatura for Shiva, etc. People in every civilization have gained pleasure in weaving flowers into garlands and crowns and in gathering them in bouquets. It would seem safe, therefore, to conclude that the culture of flowers is universal.
Today we witness numerous flower shops in different cities vying with one another with impressive blooms and flamboyant presentation of electric blue orchids, hot pink roses and virgin white lilies all in dramatic agreement in their glitzy appearance. Some flower boutiques proudly display many imported spectacular species. They come in strange shapes, sizes and colors; and are priced between Rs. 20 to Rs. 2000 per stem especially in metros depending on factors such as quality, supply and its carbon footprint. The appeal of a flower boutique is its ability to deliver unique flowers and floral creations at any time asked for; but at a price.
This blooming industry of flowers called Floriculture offers excellent careers in production, marketing, export and research. Jobs range from cultivation or growing flowers, to seed production, dry seed production, marketing and decoration.
The important floricultural crops in the international cut flower trade are rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, gerbera, gladiolus, gypsophila, orchids, archilea, anthuriu, tulip and lilies.
The world cut flower industry is a highly dynamic industry. Product varieties, the origin of production, production techniques, markets and retailing arrangements are all undergoing continuous change, challenging the adaptive capacity of the workers involved. In a slowly but steadily growing world market new developing countries are trying hard to make their mark to stay ahead by raising productivity and through diversification and innovation.
Flowers are very sensitive to every kind of treatment that they receive once they have been cut. Strict control of humidity, temperature and air quality are essential for delivering an attractive product to the market. Growers rely heavily on an efficient post-harvest chain of handlers, storage and transport. Indeed, in the absence of a ‘cold-chain’ it is practically impossible for even the most efficient producers to sell their produce on the main markets. Organization is thus the key to success in this industry.
India has a prosperous potential as far as floriculture is concerned. Massive genetic diversity, varied agro climatic conditions, versatile human resources etc. offer India a unique capacity for judicious employment of existing resources and exploration of avenues yet untouched.
In the trade of flowers quality benchmarking is important. For instance, flowers should be free from plagues and diseases and they should be undamaged. Other quality aspects, however, are more difficult to judge. For instance, it is hard to see whether flowers have been correctly handled once cut. Yet this is an important determinant of vase life and whether or not the bud will open. While a majority of Indian flowers blooming in the fields are certainly at par in quality to the ones grown in developed countries, the problem begins the moment they’re cut and initiate their journey to the market. Improper handling after harvest, unavailability of optimum temperature and moisture conditions during storage and transportation, under or over-packaging leading to damage and wiltering are a few factors which have an adverse impact on the quality of Indian flowers reaching the consumer both domestic and international.
Even our own state Jammu & Kashmir has ideal climatic conditions for floriculture and a number of flower shops are also coming up. One can find employment in the floriculture industry as a farm/ estate manager, plantation expert, supervisor, or project coordinator. Research and teaching are some other avenues of employment in the field. Marketing of floriculture products for different ventures is emerging as a potential segment in the field. Besides, one can work as consultant or landscape architect with proper training. To prepare for a career in floriculture, the best option is to acquire a four-year B.Sc. (Horticulture) degree or to study horticulture as a subject in a B.Sc. (Agriculture) degree programme. Subsequently, an M.Sc. in horticulture, followed by a Ph.D and postdoctoral fellowship is ideal. Graduate and postgraduate training in horticulture/ floriculture are available in the following educational institutes:
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow
Haryana Agricultural University
Punjab Agricultural University
College of Agriculture, Maharashtra
A career in floriculture or being an entrepreneur/a florist is a quite promising occupation in India as also in our state as the Govt. has initiated some finest plans for this potential industry. In the last few Five Year Plans, the government has consistently shown some commitment towards improving marketing infrastructures for both traditional and commercial cut flowers. Auction houses have been set up in Bangalore, Chandigarh and Trivandrum. Similar auction houses are planned for other parts of the country, while export orientated auction houses have been proposed for Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Auction houses are platforms for growers to sells their flowers directly to wholesale traders aiming at domestic or international market. Growers typically benefit from the competitive prices through the bidding process and traders get to choose from a wide range in terms of both quantity and quality.
The most promising area is the dry flower industry. Dried flower and plants have been exported for the last 30 years and today, India is one of the leading countries in the field. In Rajasthan, more than 7,000 tonnes of rose are produced. About 75% of this is exported to West Asian countries in the form of dry petals. Not just flowers, but other plant parts like leaves, stems and pods are also used in the dry flower industry.
Another important aspect of this trade if not discussed would leave this write up incomplete. Flowers are symbolic of beauty, grace and elegance but what people don’t realize these days is that they are as toxic as automobile fumes or factory waste. The innocent petals are sprayed with toxic pesticides and from seed planting to blooming and marketing, flower cultivation leaves a poisonous trail in the form of deadly insecticides and other chemicals sprayed on them. Many of the pesticides used can cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive illnesses, as well as neurological disease in humans, some show visible symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, skin eruptions, and fainting.
It is only when workers, consumers, and nature are sufficiently protected can we enjoy the romance of cut flowers. We are all aware of the pesticides used in fruits and vegetables, and because of this many of us buy organic produce. Eco Flora and Eco Stems are both great concepts for a 21st century flower shop. Our hats go off to both of these green businesses for not only making the world a better place, but for making it appear a little more beautiful too.
Flowers are the music of the ground
From earth’s lips spoken without sound!
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