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.

Source: DDNEWS