Importance of floriculture in India

Importance of floriculture in India

  • Besides food and nutritional security, the aesthetic value is also equally important for our daily lively hood as well as for environmental purity.
    1. Economic point of view:
    • Floriculture is a fast emerging major venture in the world, especially as a potential money-spinner for many third-world countries.
    • Many flowers and ornamental plants are being grown for domestic as well as for export market will provide more return/unit area than any other agricultural/horticultural crops.
    • For example in markets such as Delhi and Mumbai and other metros a single spike of gladiolus and gerbera flower may sell up to Rs. 3-5 in Kharif and Rs. 5-10/spike in Rabi/Summer.
    • Gestation period of flower crop is very less compared to other crops.
    • Modern-day floriculture refers to the production of high-value cutflowers such as Rose, Gladiolus, Carnation, Orchids, Tuberose, Anthurium, Lilium, Gerbera etc,.
    • Now days, growing of these cutflower crops, suited for flower arrangements/decorations for bouquets preparation, and for floral boskets, have increased substantially and its share of the total trade has also improved.
    • The sales of loose flowers of Jasmine, Crossandra, Marigold, China Aster, Chrysanthemums and Gaillardia etc., are a roaring busyness in south India.
    • The present trend in floriculture is for making dry flowers, extraction of natural colours and essential oils.
    • There is lot of demand for good quality flower seeds and ornamental plant materials.
    • At present the global ornamental crop industry is worth about US$ 70 billion.
    • The global consumption of the flowers is about US$ 35 billion.
    • More than three lakhs hectare are under flower production in different countries of the world.
    • Floriculture generates self employment opportunities round the year. The employment opportunities in this field are as varied as the nature of work itself.
      1. One can join the floriculture field as farm/estate managers, plantation experts, supervisors and project coordinators etc.
      2. Research and teaching are some other avenues of employment in the field.
      3. Marketing of Floriculture products for different ventures is emerging as a potential segment of this field.
      4. Besides one can work as consultant, landscape architect etc with proper training.
      5. One can also work as entrepreneur and offer employment to others.
      6. In addition to these careers which involve research and actual growing of crops.
      7. Floriculture also provides service career opportunities which include such jobs as floral designers, groundskeepers, landscape designers, architects and horticultural therapists.
      8. Professional qualification combined with an inclination towards gardening and such other activities produces efficient floriculturists and landscaping professionals.
    • Presently more than 145 countries are involved in flower production on commercial scale.
    • Lot of scope for landscaping and is considered as billion dollar earning industry in states which ultimately adds the monitory value of any building.
    • To a Japanese flower arranger each flower expresses one or more meaning (eg. Ikebana).
    • The wealth of any nation is linked with the health of its people. Unless we can ensure the healthy development of our citizens, especially the younger generation, by providing for them open breathing places through bio-aesthetic planning and landscape gardening, we cannot expect to build up a healthy society and prosperous nation.
    • Horticultural therapy - is the new dimension of horticultural science to heal the psychic debility and the science is to use garden, landscape plants, parts of plants, growing activity as tools to work.
    • The bio-force of plants offer a permanent solution to the problems of bio force of human thus, bio aesthetic horticulture is emerging as a new occupational therapeutic tool to restore the lost rhythm and harmony back to human self or inner environment.
    • It is being utilized in psychiatric hospital, general hospitals, physical rehabilitation center, homes for elderly, prisons and schools.
    • The patients can achieve higher level of personal development and satisfaction.
    • Flowers symbolize the purity, beauty, peace, love, adoration, innocence and passion etc. Hence, many flowers are used to express the most sensitive, delicate and loving feelings eloquently what our words fail to express.
    • In our society no social function is complete without the use of flowers, floral ornaments, bouquets or flower arrangements they are invariably used in all social functions.
    • Used in social gatherings, birthday parties, welcoming friends or relatives and honoring dignitaries. The concept of Valentine’s Day is fast catching up in India also.
    • The arrival of new born is rejoiced with flowers,
    • To an Indian, especially for Hindu’s, flowers have a much greater significance in religions offerings. It has estimated that more than 30-40 % of the total flower productions are being consumed in Kolkata city alone used for worshiping purpose.
    • Floral garlands, gajras and venis are required in marriage ceremonies for adornment of hairs by women of all ages, especially in the south India.
    • In the present modern era sicks are wished for speedy recovery by offering beautiful cutflowers, while the deads are bidden farewell with flowers along with tear of sorrow.
    • Flowers are very closely associated with mankind from the dawn of human civilization. There is increasing habit of ‘saying with flowers.’ Any Indians born with flowers live with flowers and finally dies with flowers.
Last modified: Monday, 25 June 2012, 12:34 PM