Sri Lanka: Mike Flora awarded for bringing in foreign exchange

Promoting the country's indigenous plants in the global market, bringing in foreign exchange to the country, and providing employment to the rural community. These were the main aims of this Sri Lanka company when the owners of Mike Flora International established the company in 1980.

Mike Flora International (Pvt) Managing Director Mihinu Keerthiratne receiving the award from Sri Lanka Minister Navin Dissanayake.

Highest Foreign Exchange Earner
And they certainly succeeded in one of these aims. In August 2016, they have been awarded with the Presidential Award for 'Highest Foreign Exchange Earner' in the category of horticulture. The award was presented to the company in recognition of the contribution bringing in much needed foreign exchange to the country and was received by Mihidu Keerthiratne, the Managing Director of the company.

Increasing demand
As their aims are interwoven, also the other two have been achieved. "Right from the inception, we started to supply the international market", explains Sanath Rammandala, Manager Sales & Marketing at Mike Flora International. And their products seemed to be well demanded. "Annually, the demand grew by about 7 to 8 percent on average till 2009. From 2009 onward the growth slowed down but we expect to improve from 2017." The growth, in turn enabled them to offer more employment to the rural community. "We have grown to 4 nurseries located at Rambukkana, Madawala, Welogamuwa and Nawala covering over 100 acres and employing over 200 people.

Export countries
Currently Mike Flora is exporting about 16 million (un)rooted/potted plants and cut foliage that represent over 64 varieties on an average to reach over 10 global destinations, including Europe, Japan, Asia, USA, Middle East, Russia, Australia and Korea. Their main export countries are The Netherlands and Japan. "To the Netherlands, we export plants in net pots, Oasis, and also pot plants. In addition we supply cut foliage and un-rooted cuttings in line with the customer demand. To Japan, we export Anthurium flowers and we have just started to grow Gerbera to be exported as cut flowers", says Rammandala. Their newest market is Russia but they are still at the infant stage. "We currently export plants in net pots and oasis only, but expect to promote pot plants and also cut flowers as we go by." And they are continuously expanding markets. "We are pursuing countries like Italy, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar at present. We have inquiries for pot plants, cut flowers, un-rooted cutting and also for leaves."

The Nursery.

Popular varieties
Currently, they maintain parent stocks for more than 70 tropical plant varieties which are under different levels of shading. According to Rammandala, the most popular varieties are the Croton, Aglaonemas, Livistona, Sanseivaria, Sanderiana, Scindapsus, Surculosa, and Zamioculcus varieties. "The majority of the customers prefers green varieties and varieties that gives color", he adds.

Tissue culture
Next to (un)rooted plants and finished plants, they also export tissue cultured plants, that is grown in their modern Tissue Culture Lab in Sri Lanka. "It is one of the largest tissue culture labs of Sri Lanka, and has the capacity to produce 12 million plants annually." The plants are being exported to Australia, Japan and The Netherlands, mainly under agreements with customers.

For more information
Mike Flora International
Sanath Rammandala
Email: mgmkt@mikeflora.com
www.mikeflora.com