Global markets bloom for South Gujarat farmers

Himansshu Bhatt, TNN Feb 3, 2012

SURAT : Flowers grown in south Gujarat have begun to find their way to world's biggest flower markets of Amsterdam in Holland and London in United Kingdom on a regular basis.

Different varieties of Dutch roses that are being grown in the green houses of Mahudi of Vyara in Tapi district and Bagumara and Bardoli of Surat district reach the markets in Tokyo, Dubai and those in European countries via Amsterdam every week.

Ankit Desai, a green house consultant, said, "Three firms from south Gujarat export as much as 1.5 lakh Dutch roses from the state. One of these also exports 50,000 Gerbera flowers to London."

Snehal Patel, owner of S Agro, has green houses spread over 9 acres of land in Mahudi in Vyara. Nimesh Bachkaniwala of Anand Exports has green houses spread over 13 acres near Bardoli and Suresh Parmar of Shital Biotech has set up green houses on 11 acres near Bardoli.

Bachkaniwala family, which is traditionally into textile business, started high tech rose farming three years ago. Nimesh Bachkaniwala said, "High-tech farming is more paying thus we ventured into it. Demand for roses is very high in foreign countries and the rate is at least Rs 4 per flower." He is the only one in Gujarat, who exports Gerbera to Japan. A consignment of 50,000 flowers is shipped on a weekly basis during the season.

"On an average a Dutch rose fetches Rs 8 or 15 cents to a farmer and the price could go as high as 0.50

$ or Rs 25 per flower," said Desai, adding that this has made many farmers in the region to take up high tech farming.

The initial cost of setting up a green house on one acre of land could be as high as Rs 50 lakh. However, 50 per cent government subsidy has made it an attractive business for some farmers.

Assistant director, horticulture , Surat, Dinesh Pataliya, said nearly 150 new green houses will be set up in the coming year in Surat district itself. World flower market is worth 60 million US dollars. Major exporters to Amsterdam market are Columbia, Equador, Kenya, Israel, Costa Rica, Thailand, Poland, India, China, Korea and Mexico in that order. Flowers are dispatched to buyers in 120 countries from Amsterdam.

Source:http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-03/surat/31020805_1_green-houses-world-flower-market-dutch-roses

Another feather in Gujarat's development.
It seems Narendra Modi is doing all round development for his state without any assistance from the Central Government which is doing all in its power to put hindrances in his path.
Compare it with our own Bengal where didi is just announcing populist measures with an eye to the vote bank politics without having necessary finance.
It started with Nano and is continuing.
The latest being Rs 2.0 lakhs to each of the families whose members died in the recent hooch tragedy.
The High Court has put a stay to that. More about this in my next post.