Corona effect: Hit the export of roses from the country

Bangalore, Ta. 10 February 2021, Wednesday

The current year has also seen a sharp decline in the export of roses, a symbol of love, as Corona has hit the export of many goods from the country. Roses are widely exported from India for Valentine's Day.

India's roses are in high demand in the UK, Europe and Australia. According to an official of the Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals, one crore branches of roses were exported from the country last year. About 5 to 20 per cent of the annual income from rose exports comes during the Valentine's season.

Most of the roses are exported from the country to Pune and Bangalore. Normally, 50 lakh twigs are exported from Pune, which is expected to reach 3 to 4 lakh this year, the official said.

Corona has doubled the cost behind the export of flowers. The cost of shipping flowers from Bengaluru and Pune to European countries, which used to be Rs 5 to 20 per kg, has now risen to around Rs 200 to Rs 50. This was preceded by a decline in flower exports even during the Christmas festivities.

Orders for roses are expected to arrive in late December or early January, an exporter said. About 5% of India's rose exports go to the UK and 20% to Japan.

In addition, Australia's share is 12 percent. Exports of roses, which stood at Rs 7.5 crore in the January-November period of 2017, fell by 3 per cent to Rs 30.50 crore in the same period of 2020. Rose nurseries also saw a decline in operations due to the corona.