The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Flora Expo 2005' from Friday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Flora Expo 2005' from Friday

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The city is set to host one of the biggest floriculture events to be held in Asia — a three-day international "Flora Expo 2005" — combining an exhibition and conference, at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium from July 1.

Being organised by the Media Today group along with the Agricultural Produce Export Development Agency, under the Union Commerce Ministry, and the National Horticulture Board, the expo is expected to draw those engaged in the cultivation of flowers and their trade and export.

Speaking to presspersons, the Horticulture Minister, R. Srinivas, said India is considered a supplier of flowers, and flower and plant buyers from the world over will visit the exhibition in search of quality flowers and plants.

The Minister said Japan, The Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Kuwait, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, the U.K., U.A.E. and other countries and 100 organisations will participate in the show. Fifteen States will also take part.

The Minister said flowers are grown in an area of 21,000 hectares in the State, which produced 1.56 lakh tonnes of them. Five lakh people are engaged in floriculture. The State exports flowers worth Rs. 75 crores. India's share in the $ 50 billion market for flowers is only 0.6 per cent. But, because of the high cost of production in many western countries, floriculture will flourish in India.

Mr. Srinivas said the National Horticulture Mission has sanctioned Rs. 207 crores for developing floriculture over two years in the State.

The Minister said the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board has agreed to allot 100 acres of land to the department for opening a flower auction centre at the proposed new airport.

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