Love blooms in Bangalore roses

Love blooms in Bangalore roses
Deccan Herald

In the global hierarchy of rose cultivation during the Valentine’s season, Bangalore ranks “second” in the world, producing as it does 28 million stems after Ecuador’s 55 million and well ahead of Pune’s 2 million....

In the global hierarchy of rose cultivation during the Valentine’s season, Bangalore ranks “second” in the world, producing as it does 28 million stems after Ecuador’s 55 million and well ahead of Pune’s 2 million.

The global market of roses during the Valentine’s season, beginning February 2 to 10, is “180 million stems out of which 30 million stems are from India. Red roses comprise 80 per cent of this chunk. The consumption of roses in the domestic market is 10 million stems, out of which 90 per cent is red,” says Ramakrishna Karuturi, managing director, Karuturi Networks Limited, a leading flower export house in Karnataka. The most popular varieties of red roses: Grand Gala, Passion and First Red are grown in Bangalore, Doddaballapur, Hosur and Pune.

“Bangalore is said to produce one of the finest qualities of red roses in the world after Kenya. At an altitude of 1100 metres, night temperature of 12-14 degree Celsius and day temperature of 28-32 degree Celsius, between November to February, it has the ideal climate to grow roses. In the international market, a single stalk of red rose from here can fetch as much as Rs 30,” he says.

India would have topped the chart in rose cultivation throughout the year if it weren’t for the adverse taxation by the State and Central governments.

“There’s an 80 per cent tax on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) in India as compared to nil in other countries on the out-borne cargo. The Karnataka government charges 38 per cent sales tax, while the Centre levies 16 per cent plus 20 per cent, as Customs and Central excise,” he says

Exceptionally lucky

This year Valentine’s season has been exceptionally lucky for rose growers. “There has been a 100 per cent rise in the wholesale price of roses this year, from last year’s Rs 4 per stem to this year’s Rs 7.95,” adds Mr Ramakrishna.

A look at Bangalore’s consumption of red roses during the Valentine’s season shows a three-time increase from a normal of Rs 6 to Rs 8 for a single stalk to Rs 15 to Rs 25. According to Ms Padmaja Kamisetty of Ohana, the boutique of exotic flowers sells around 2,000 red roses, of export quality, at Rs 20 to Rs 25 for a single stem during the season.

The wholesalers in Bangalore also report staggering figures, of selling around one lakh single stems of red roses between February 11 and 13 alone.

“In the last three days, we have sold about 5,000 bunches of roses, out of which, 50 per cent are red ones,” says wholesaler M Kalidasa Raj, proprietor of Sneha Florists.

Look at the auction figures of roses. On Sunday, the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) at Hebbal auctioned 98,000 single stems of roses between Rs 120 and Rs 180, for a single bunch. On Monday, the figures, though dipped slightly, remained over 80,000 between Rs 100 and Rs 150. One bunch has 20 single stalks, he says.

And it’s not just the local market that blossoms out during the Valentine’s week. “Export of flowers, especially roses is maximum during this season. We earn around Rs 10 crore during the Valentine’s season, 80 per cent of which comes from the sale of roses. Karnataka’s average export of flowers is annually worth Rs 40 crore,” says Mr J K Vasanthkumar, director, horticulture department.

Look at the auction figures of roses. On Sunday, the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) at Hebbal auctioned 98,000 single stems of roses between Rs 120 and Rs 180, for a single bunch. On Monday, the figures, though dipped slightly, remained over 80,000 between Rs 100 and Rs 150. One bunch has 20 single stalks, he says.

And it’s not just the local market that blossoms out during the Valentine’s week. “Export of flowers, especially roses is maximum during this season. We earn around Rs 10 crore during the Valentine’s season, 80 per cent of which comes from the sale of roses. Karnataka’s export of flowers is annually worth Rs 40 crore,” says Mr J K Vasanthkumar, director, horticulture department.