Last year, around 10 million rose stems were exported, Praveen Sharma, president, Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP), said. The Valentine season typically accounts for 20-30% of the annual revenues.
The Pune region alone exports around 5 million stems but may export only 2-3 million stems this season. Freight costs for flowers have more than doubled since the outbreak of Covid-19; shipping costs to European destinations from major producing regions such as Bengaluru and Pune have now reached Rs 200-225 a kg from Rs 70-80 per kg in the pre-Covid period.
UK accounts for 35% of Indian exports followed by Japan (19%) and Australia (18%). Sharma said there could be some solace from West Asian markets, Malaysia and Singapore.
The pandemic, together with Cyclone Nisarga, has hurt flower growers badly damaging their greenhouse structures. Some businesses have even shut down. “Against exports of `50 crore in 2019, the revenues in 2020 were only `30 crore in 2020,” the association said.
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