The Hindu Business Line : Apeda submits proposals to boost floriculture exports

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products' Export Development Authority (Apeda) has submitted a proposal to the Union Agriculture Ministry to boost floriculture output and exports.

The proposal is based on the inputs provided by consultants A.F. Ferguson & Co, which recently conducted a detailed study on the problems faced by the industry, said Mr K.S. Money, Chairman, Apeda.

Though India had vast potential to emerge as a major player in the global floriculture market, which is currently estimated at $11 billion, the country accounted for just 0.2 per cent of global exports last year at Rs 305 crore, Mr Money said.

Further, several issues need to be addressed to capture one per cent of the global floriculture market in the next three years, he said.

Though many States in the country have conducive weather for production of quality floriculture material, they lagg behind in exports due to various bottlenecks being faced by growers and exporters including lack of market facilities, high freight rates, failure to take up periodical replantation of flower plants among others.

"Notwithstanding these constraints, we at Apeda expect the Indian floriculture to grow at 15 per cent annually," he said.

In a bid to showcase the Indian floriculture industry, a three-day Flora Expo-2006 would be held in Delhi from September 8, Mr Money said.

Mega expositions will not only give impetus to floriculture sector but also help showcase India's capabilities, the variety that it offers and its ability to supply quality products to international markets, he said.

The Expo would see participation from 24 countries such as Singapore, The Netherlands, Australia, Russia, UAE, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Germany and other several European nations.

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