FLORICULTURE

What is Floriculture ?

• Floriculture, or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. The development, via plant breeding, of new varieties is a major occupation of floriculturists.

• Floriculture crops include bedding plants, houseplants, flowering garden and pot plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers.

TABLE OF CONTENT

• INTRODUCTION• VARIETY OF PRODUCTS• AREAS OF CULTIVATION• FLOWER VARIETIES• INDIA- FACTS AND FIGURES• EXPORTS• INDIVIDUAL SUB-PRODUCTS• ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN FLORICULTURE• INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL

FLORICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

• India is bestowed with several agro-climatic zones conducive for production of sensitive and delicate floriculture products. During the decade after liberalization floriculture industries took giant steps in the export arena. This era has seen a dynamic shift from sustenance production to commercial production.

• As per National Horticulture Database published by National Horticulture Board, during 2012-13 the area under floriculture production in India was 232.74 thousands hectares with a production of 1.729 million tonnes loose flowers and 76.73 million tonnes cut flowers.

• Floriculture is now commercially cultivated in several states with West Bengal (32%), Karnataka (12%) Maharashtra (10%), having gone ahead of other producing states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

• Indian floriculture industry comprises of flowers such as Rose, Tuberose, Glads, Anthurium, Carnations, Marigold etc. Cultivation is undertaken in both open farm conditions as well as state-of-the-art poly and greenhouses. 

• India's total export of floriculture was Rs. 455.90 crores in 2013-14. The major importing countries were United States, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Canada. There are more than 300 export-oriented units in India. More than 50% of the floriculture units are based in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. With the technical collaborations from foreign companies, the Indian floriculture industry is poised to increase its share in world trade.

• India has also been exporting fruits and vegetable seeds and exports during 2013-14 stood at Rs. 410.53 crores. Pakistan, United States, Bangladesh, Netherland, Italy, and Thailand were the major markets of India’s fruits and vegetable seeds.

• Government of India has identified floriculture as a sunrise industry and accorded it 100% export oriented status. Owing to steady increase in demand of flower floriculture has become one of the important Commercial trades in Agriculture. Hence commercial floriculture has emerged as hi-tech activity-taking place under controlled climatic conditions inside greenhouse. Floriculture in India, is being viewed as a high growth Industry. Commercial floriculture is becoming important from the export angle. The liberalization of industrial and trade policies paved the way for development of export-oriented production of cut flowers. The new seed policy had already made it feasible to import planting material of international varieties. 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. Indian floriculture industry has been shifting from traditional flowers to cut flowers for export purposes. The liberalized economy has given an impetus to the Indian entrepreneurs for establishing export oriented floriculture units under controlled climatic conditions.

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), is responsible for export promotion and development of floriculture in India.

Varieties 

Floriculture products mainly consist of • cut flowers, • pot plants, • cut foliage, • seeds bulbs,• tubers,• rooted cuttings and dried flowers or

leaves.

• The important floricultural crops in the international cut flower trade are rose , carnation ,chrysanthemum, gargera, gladiolus, gypsophila, liastris, nerine, orchids, archilea, anthuriu, tulip, and lilies.

• Floriculture crops like gerberas, carnation, etc. are grown in green houses.

• The open field crops are chrysanthemum, roses, gaillardia, lily marigold, aster, tuberose etc

Areas of Cultivation:

• Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu , Rajasthan , West Bengal have emerged as major floriculture centers.

FLOWERS VARIETY

Chrysanthemum• Chrysanthemum is mainly grown in Madhupur and Deoghar

districts (Bihar); Anand, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari and Valsad (Gujarat); Bangalore, Dharwad, Belgaum, Hosur and Malur (Karnataka); Indore, Ratlam and Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh); Ahmednagar and Pune (Maharashtra); Ajmer, Pushkar; Udaipur and Kota (Rajasthan) and Madurai, Chingleput and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

• Plant Description:It is a partly woody erect perennial herb or sub shrub up to 1m in height with alternate thick leaves. The inflorescence consists of many flower heads. Each flower head has numerous florets - the disk florets and ray florets.

• Centre of Origin : Northern hemisphere mainly Europe and Asia

• Pollination System : Cross pollinated• Chromosome No. : 2n=36,45,47,51• Botanical Name : Chrysanthemum morifolium• Family : Asteraceae

VARIETIES: • Ajina Purple :

This variety is developed by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a regular incurve type of chrysanthemum with very large flowers. Ray florets of this variety are narrow to broad. Florets are very smoothly incurved in a pattern to form a perfect ball. Disc is not visible.

• Snowball :

This variety is developed by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a regular incurve type of chrysanthemum with very large flowers. Ray florets of this variety are narrow to broad. Florets are very smoothly incurved in a pattern to form a perfect ball. Disc is not visible.

• Potomac :

This variety is developed by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a single large flowered type of variety. Ray florets of this variety are long, elongated and straplike. Number of whorl of florets restricted upto four. The disc is conspicuously visible.

• M-24 :

This variety is developed by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a large flowering variety of spoon type. Ray florets of this variety are tubular with spatula like open tips. The size of open portion varies. Disc visible.

Gladiolus

• Area Under Cultivation

Gladiolus is mainly cultivates in Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

• Plant DescriptionIt is a herbaceous plant bearing underground storage stems known as corms from which arise sword shaped foliage bearing terminal inflorescences of flowers known as spikes

• Centre of Origin :- Tropical and south africa• Pollination System :- Cross/Self pollinated• Chromosome No. :- 2n=30 to 120• Botanical Name :- Gladiolus x hybrida

Varieties

• Archana :

This variety is released by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a cross between G. psittacinus 'Sylvia' x G. 'Friendship'. The spike is branched with a mean spike length of 80cm. The petals have a central white streak with the throat blotched with prime rose yellow. There are 16-18 florets/spike.

• Basant Bhar:

This variety is released by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a seedling produced by selfing G. 'Tunias Challenge'. Mean spike length is 50cm. The florets are Empire Yellow with throats speckled magenta. There are 14 florets/spike

• Gazel :

This variety is released by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a seedling produced by selfing G. 'White Friendship'. Mean spike length is 35cm. The florets are Fuchsine pink with darker tips and linear shading while the throat is persian yellow. There are 14-18 florets/spike

• Jwala :

This variety is released by NBRI, Lucknow. It is a seedling produced by selfing G. psittacinus hybrid. The spikes are branched with a mean spike length of 65cm. The florets are Vermilion with sparingly spread long liner streaks of Vermilion. There are 14-18 florets per spike.

Jasmine

• Area Under Cultivation:

In India, jasmines are cultivated throughout the country but the commercial cultivation is confined to Coimbatore, Madurai, and Dindigul(Tamil Nadu); Bangalore, Bellary, Mysore and Kolar (Karnataka); Knnauj, Jaunpur and Gazipur (Utter Pradesh); Udaipur, Jaipur, Ajmer and Kota (Rajasthan); Ranaghat, Kolaghat, Pancskura (West Bengal); parts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharastra.

• Plant DescriptionIt is a climbing, trailing and erect shrub; there are both evergreen and deciduous species with pinnate or simple leaves and fragnant flowers containing the oil of commerce.

• Centre of Origin:- Spain and surrounding areas / East indies

• Pollination System:- Cross pollinated• Chromosome No:- 2n=26,39• Botanical Name:- Jasminum grandiflorum /J. sambac

Varieties & Its Characteristics

• Parimullai

This variety belongs to the species Jasminum auriculatum (Jui). It has a medium round bud with flowering duration of about 9 months/year. It is resistant to gall mite. The average yield is 8t/ha,.

• CO 1

This variety belongs to the species Jasminum auriculatum (Jui). Flowers of this variety have a long corolla tube and thus easy to harvest. The average yield is 8.8 t/ha

• CO 2

This variety belongs to the species Jasminum auriculatum(Jui). Flower buds of this variety are bold with long corolla tube. It is tolerant to phyllody disease. The average yield is 11.1 t/ha.

• CO-1 (Pitchi)

This variety belongs to the species Jasminum grandiflorum(Chameli). It is released by T.N.A.U., Coimbatore. It is suitable for loose flower production and oil extraction. The average flower yield is about 10 t/ha/year while the estimated concrete yield is 29 kg/ha.

Marigold• Marigold is normally cultivated in Maharashtra,

Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

• Botanical Name :-

Various species and hybrids of dendrobium, cymbididium and vanda.

• Plant Discription :-

They are a group of perennial herbs of varying habit. Having cylindrical, thread like elongated and branched roots covered by spongy water absorbing structurescalled as velamen. The morphology depends according to the species.

• Centre of Origin :- Worldwide according to species• Pollination System :- Self/Cross pollinated

VARIETIES

• Atlantis Mixed F

Early blooming, double orange and yellow coloured flowers.

• Crackerjack

Flowers gold, orange and yellow coloured.• Discovery Mixed F

Flowers dwarf, compact, orange and yellow coloured.• Galore Mixed F

Flowers having gold, orange and yellow shades.• Orange Galore F

Flowers with vivid orange colour

Tuberose

• The chief centres of its commercial production, in India, are: Devanahalli, Tumkur, Kolar, Belgaum and Mysore (Karnataka); Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar and Thane districts (Maharashtra); Guwahati and Johrat (Assam); Udaipur, Ajmer and Jaipur (Rajasthan); Navsari and Valsad (Gujarat); Coimbatore and Madurai districts (Tamil Nadu); East Godavari and Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and Midnapur district (West Bengal).

• Plant Description:-

It is a half hardy, herbaceous perennial with fibrous roots, 60 to 120 cm high, having a bulb like tuberous rootstock and fleshy leaves linear , grass like foliage. The foliage is narrow at the base and wider at the top and is arranged in a rosette at the base.

• Centre of Origin :- Mexico• Pollination System :- Cross pollinated• Chromosome No. :- 2n=30• Botanical Name :- Polianthes tuberosa• Family :- Amaryllidaceae

VARIETIES

• 'Rajat Rekha'

It is a single flowered variety released by NBRI, Lucknow. The flowers have silvery white streaks along the middle of blade.

• Shringar

It is a single flowered variety released by IIHR, Bangalore. The flower bud is attractive with slightly pinkish tinge. Its loose flowers are ideal for making garland while spikes can be used as cut flowers. Yield of loose flowers is about 15,000 kg/ha/yr. Shringar is preferred by farmers and industries due to its higher flower yield.

• 'Single Mexican'

It is a single flowered variety. Produces maximum flowers during October-December, which is considered as lean months for tuberose flowers yield.

• Svarna Rekha

It is a double flowered variety released by NBRI, Lucknow. The flowers are double and the leaf margin is streaked with golden yellow.

• Suvasini

It is a double flowered variety released by IIHR, Bangalore. It is a cross between 'Single' and 'Double'. This variety produces more flowers per spike. The spikes are best suited for cut flowers.

India Facts and Figures:

• About 232.74 thousand hectares area was under Cultivation in floriculture in 2012-13. Production of flowers are estimated to be 1.729 million tonnes loose flowers and 76.73 million tonnes cut flowers in 2012-13.

Exports:

• The country has exported 22,485.21 MT of floriculture products to the world for the worth of Rs. 455.90 crores in 2013-14.

Major Export Destinations (2013-14)

• United States, • Netherlands, • Germany, • United Kingdom,• United Arab Emirates, • Japan and • Canada were major importing countries of

Indian floriculture during the same period.

Individual Sub – Products :

• Bulbs, Tubers , Tuberous Roots

• Bulbs Horticultural• Chicory plants• Other Bulb/Tubers• Unrooted Cuttings

• Edible Fruit Trees Grafted or Not

• Cactus

• Rhododendrons (Grafted Or Not)

- Plant For Tissue Culture

- Flowering Plants- Other Live Plants- Live Mushrooms Spawn- Cut Flowers For

Bouquet’s/Fresh- Other Cut Flowers For

Bouquet’s- Moosses & Lichens For

Bouquet Fresh- Other Foliages/Buds For

Bouquet Fresh

 Entrepreneurship in Agriculture & Allied Sectors Floriculture

• Commercial floriculture has been of recent origin though the traditional flower cultivation has been going on for centuries. Emphasis has been shifting from traditional flowers to cut flowers for export purposes. The liberalization of economy since 1991-92 has given an impetus to the Indian entrepreneurs for establishing export oriental floriculture unit under controlled climatic conditions. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have emerged as major floriculture centres in recent times. At present the total area under floriculture cultivation is about 73,970 ha. with a production of 4.60 lakh tonnes of loose flowers and 1155 lakh (numbers) of cut flowers.

• Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal organisation responsible for development of the floriculture sector. It is responsible for formulation and implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid agricultural growth through optimum utilization of land, water, soil and plant resources of the country. The Horticulture Division in the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation is vested with the responsibility of overseeing the overall accelerated development of the sector. It has been set up with a mandate to implement the programmes for improving the production, productivity and utilisation of horticultural crops, support and formulate policies aimed for accelerated growth of horticulture, facilitate the availability of disease free planting material and seeds of horticultural crops, provide the leadership and co-ordinate activities for the promotion of horticulture, etc.

• Several schemes have been initiated by the Government for promotion and development of the floriculture sector. Integrated Development of Commercial Floriculture is one such scheme implemented with the objectives of improve production and productivity of traditional as well as cut flowers through availability of quality planting material and transfer technology, improve human resource capabilities for growing flowers scientifically, promote production of off season and quality flowers through protected cultivation as well as improve on farm post harvest handling of flowers.State Governments have set up separate departments for promotion and development of the sector in their respective States.

Organizational Framework

• Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal organization responsible for development of the floriculture sector. It is responsible for formulation and implementation of national policies and programmes aimed at achieving rapid agricultural growth through optimum utilization of land, water, soil and plant resources of the country.

• It undertakes all possible measures to ensure timely and adequate supply of inputs and services such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, agricultural implements and also provides agricultural credit, crop insurance and ensures remunerative returns to the farmer for their agricultural produce.

The Horticulture Division in the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation is vested with the responsibility of overseeing the overall accelerated development of the sector. It has been set up with a mandate to:

• Implement the programmes for improving the production, productivity and utilization of horticultural crops.

• Support and formulate policies aimed for accelerated growth of horticulture.

• Facilitate the availability of disease free planting material and seeds of horticultural crops.

• Provide the leadership and co-ordinate activities for the promotion of horticulture.

• Work as facilitator for the transfer of technology to farmers and promote the use of information technology.

• Promote better utilization and increased consumption of horticultural produce to ensure higher returns to farmers and nutritional security to people.

• Develop strong base for the supply of inputs, transfer of technology and human resource developmental activities.

• Promote horticulture in NE Region, hills, tribal & backward areas for improving economic status of people.

Ministry of Food Processing Industry

• It is the main  central agency of the Government responsible for developing a strong and vibrant food processing sector. It has been set up with a view to create increased job opportunities in rural areas, enable the farmers to reap benefit from modern technology, create surplus for exports and stimulate demand for processed food.

The subjects looked after by the Ministry are :• Fruits and vegetable processing industry;• Food grain milling industry;• Dairy products; 

• Processing of poultry and eggs, meat and meat products;

• Fish processing;• Bread, oilseeds, meals (edible), breakfast foods,

biscuits, confectionery(including cocoa processing and chocolate), malt extract, protein isolate, high protein food, weaning food;

• Alcoholic drinks from non-molasses base;• Aerated waters / soft drinks and other processed foods;• Specialized packaging for food processing industries; as

well as• Technical assistance and advice to food processing

industry.

State Governments have set up separate departments for promotion and development of the sector in their respective States. Some of them are the following.

Department of Food Processing Industries And Horticulture, Government Of West Bengal

The department has taken several initiatives for the development of the sector:

• The state government is setting up a hi-tech floriculture park at Mungpoo in North Bengal. This park would provide common infrastructure to the entrepreneurs, who lack resources to build the required infrastructure.

• The state government through the West Bengal State Food Processing and Horticulture Development Corporation Ltd is planning to set up a market complex for flowers with cold chain infrastructure for preserving flowers at Mullickghat, Kolkata.

• A comprehensive multistoried flower market with facilities for cold storage has recently come up at Panskura under the state government initiative.

• The Department of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Govt. of West Bengal is planning to set up a market complex, exclusively for flowers at Ranaghat.

Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka

• Karnataka is a progressive state in the field of modern horticulture in the country. The diverse agro-ecological conditions prevailing in Karnataka has made it possible to grow different types of horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops, root and tuber crops, medicinal and aromatic crops etc. Karnataka is the 3 rd largest producer of fruits and stands 5th position in area and production of vegetable crops. State stands 1st in area and 3rd in production of flower crops. It occupies 2nd and 3rd position with respect to area and production of plantation crops. Karnataka is the largest producer of Spices, Aromatic and Medicinal crops.

• Government of Karnataka is considering fruit and vegetable processing sector as a thrust area for development. With growing urbanization and increasing quality consciousness, the market for processed fruit and vegetable is expected to grow rapidly. Therefore, there is enormous potential for developing agro products.

Policies and Schemes Several significant initiatives have been taken in recent years by

the Government in order to reverse the downward trend in agricultural production. Some of these important initiatives include:

• Bharat Nirman;• National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme;• National Horticulture Mission;• Expansion of Institutional Credit to Farmers;• Establishment of the National Bee Board;• Establishment of the National Rainfed Area Authority;• Establishment of the National Fisheries Development Board

(NFDB);• Watershed Development and Micro Irrigation Programmes;• Reforms in Agricultural Marketing and Development of Market

Infrastructure;

• Revitalization of Cooperative Sector;• Agri-business Development through Venture Capital

Participation by the Small Farmer Agri-business Consortium;

• Reform and Support for Agriculture Extension Services;• National Rural Health Mission;• National Food Security Mission;• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to incentivize the states to

invest more in agriculture;• Integrated Food Law;• Legislative Framework for Warehousing Development

and Regulation;• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights

(PPVFR) Act, 2001;• National Bamboo Mission; and• Knowledge Connectivity through Common Service

Centres (CSC) and IT initiatives

Integrated Development of Commercial Floriculture

Objectives:• Improve production and productivity of traditional as well

as cut flowers through availability of quality planting material and transfer technology.

• Improve human resource capabilities for growing flowers scientifically.

• Promote production of off season and quality flowers through protected cultivation.

• Improve on farm post harvest handling of flowers.

Pattern of Assistance: • Specific attention for development of traditional flowers.• Strengthening of Model Floriculture Centres for additional

facilities and extension of MFC in other potential States.• Improvement in productivity and production through higher

use of inputs and area expansion• Assistance for off-season production of flowers• Emphasis on on-farm post-harvest management of flowers.• Encouragement for greenhouse cultivation of flowers.• Farmer participatory demonstration of cultivator technology• Dissemination of Information through training and media

support

REFRENCES:

• http://nhb.gov.in/bulletin-flowers.html• http://www.apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/

SubHead_Products/Floriculture.htm• http://www.business.gov.in/agriculture/

floriculture.php• http://india.gov.in/topics/agriculture/

floriculture• http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/

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