West Bengal tops in production of cut flowers.

KOLKATA: West Bengal topped the production of cut flowers with over 250 crore of them across India, clocking the highest compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 597 per cent between 2007 and '08 and 2011-12, according to a recently concluded study by apex industry body Assocham.

"West Bengal has also emerged number one with the highest share of about 34 per cent in production of over 740 crore cut flowers throughout the country as of financial year 2011-12. Production of cut flowers in India is growing at a CAGR of over 14 per cent," according to the study titled 'Value addition to rural economy: The promise of floriculture.'

"Festivals, weddings, large-scale political functions and other special occasions are driving demand for cut flowers as they are mostly used for decorative purposes, as gifts/bouquets for formal events," said DS Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham, while releasing the findings of the chamber's study.

"Though the initial investment is very high, flower production gives much higher returns than traditional crops. However, one has to wait for four to five years for breakeven," Rawat said. West Bengal is ranked eighth in terms of production of loose flowers, with the state producing about 64,000 tonne loose flowers, clocking a CAGR of over 7 per cent during the period mentioned.

However, the area under flower production in West Bengal has shrunk from about 27,000 hectares in 2007-08 to about 24,000 hectares in 2011-12, registering a fall at a CAGR of over 3 per cent, pointed out the study prepared by the Assocham Economic Research Bureau (AERB).

Apart from this, the share of West Bengal's area under flower production across India has also plummeted by 7 per cent during the period, dipping from 16.5 per cent in 2007-08 to 9.4 per cent in 2011-12.

It is estimated that about two lakh people are involved in cut flower production in the state which enjoys diverse agro-climatic conditions suitable for flower production.

Dedicated cold storage facilities for flowers near the main production centres would give a boost to flower exports from West Bengal, besides promotion of bio-technology, especially tissue culture and genetic engineering, noted the Assocham study.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com