The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : State emerging as flower bowl of nation: Minister

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Tamil Nadu

State emerging as flower bowl of nation: Minister

Special Correspondent

All India Rose Convention, International Rose Seminar begin

The convention is being organised for the first time in Tamil Nadu

A deep red rose variety called ‘Taj Mahal’ will be released for Valentine’s Day

— Photo: M.Sathyamoorthy

Fragrant start: Khadi Board Minister K.Ramachandran (third from right), releasing a souvenir at the inauguration of the All-India Rose Convention in Udhagamandalam on Saturday.

Udhagamandalam: Tamil Nadu is rapidly emerging as the flower bowl of the country, said Minister for Khadi K.Ramachandran on Saturday.

He was inaugurating the three-day, 27th All India Rose Convention and International Rose Seminar, jointly organised by the Department of Horticulture and the Nilgiri Rose Society (NRS) at Centenary Rose Park here.

Attributing his observation to the enthusiasm displayed by the growers, efforts of the Horticulture Department, support of financial institutions and the competence of various associations, he said that the agro-climatic conditions in Tamil Nadu were most favourable for cultivating cut flowers. The potential for exporting them was enormous.

Steady growth

The global floriculture industry is growing at the rate of 17 per cent per annum while domestic growth is 25 per cent, he said. International trade in floriculture was increasing steadily. However India’s contribution was only two per cent. While the total area under floriculture in India was about 34,000 hectares, in the Nilgiris it was about 50 hectares.

Pointing out that a variety of flowers could be grown here, Mr.Ramachandran said that the problems that needed to be addressed included lack of good planting materials, inadequate awareness of latest technology, price fluctuation and activities of middlemen, poor market intelligence and an unorganised retail market.

He lamented that the flower auction centre here was yet to serve its purpose. He urged the authorities concerned to explore the possibility of promoting Centenary Rose Park as an international testing facility. He acknowledged the role of officials in the park being recognised as a Garden of Excellence.

New chapter

The Nilgiris Collector Anandrao V.Patil said that the convention had added a new chapter to the history of the park, which had registered a steady growth since inception.

Chairman, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) Limited, S.Ramasundaram, said that Tanflora, a joint venture project near Hosur, would release a deep red rose variety called ‘Taj Mahal’ next month to mark Valentine’s Day celebrations. Next year it would come out with a pink rose variety called ‘Kohinoor.’

Pointing out that it had shipped 10 million roses this fiscal, he averred that production would not fall.

President, Indian Rose Federation, Aravind Sable, said that such a convention was being organised for the first time in Tamil Nadu. Executive Director, TIDCO, S.J.Chiru, and Industrialist T.Gundan spoke. President, NRS, K.Krishnakumar, welcomed the gathering. Joint Director of Horticulture, A.Sankaran, proposed a vote of thanks. Mr.Ramachandran released a souvenir to mark the occasion.

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