Floriculture and source of income

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

Loriculture plays an important role in the aesthetic and social life of the people worldwide. Flowers and decorative leaves are used for different purposes such as gifts, special occasions. The demand for these horticultural plants is increasing due to the changing socio economic conditions, attitudes of the people and newly introduced landscaping patterns, Dr. S. K. D. Frank Niranjan, Sri Lanka Council for Agriculture Research Policy states to the Sunday Observer.

Floriculture sector has changed rapidly all over the world due to globalisation and rapid economic development. These plants and flowers are sold at famous auctions in different countries in the world and exchanging millions of dollars among the stakeholder.

According to the researches in Sri Lanka, this sector employs a comparatively large number of employees/hectare (12-15) than other agricultural sectors. These extends located mainly in the Western, North Western and Central provinces.

Of the total land area, 28 ha are under the production of cut flowers, 472 ha under foliage plants and the rest accounting for flowering and mixed types of floriculture. Large-scale producers are using advanced technologies with quality production techniques, but the middle and rural level growers are using low level of technologies and employ low cost cultivation methods producing relatively low quality products.

Floriculture industry has been a good source of income for urban and suburban communities. Plant species are categorized into cut flowers, cut foliage and other foliage plants with special characteristics.

Cut flower refers to flower and/or flower buds with suitable stems of varying length. Some important varieties of cut flowers are anthuriams, orchids and roses. Palm varieties and flowering plants such as bougainvillaea and euphorbia are also demanded by most of the people.

The total acreage under flowers and foliage cultivation in the world is estimated to be about 200,000 ha. Sri Lanka's contribution is only 720 ha in 1997. Over the last few years the demand for cut flowers has increased and keeps on increasing annually at a rate of 15-18%. The annual consumption of cut flowers is approximately US $ mn. 27 million in Europe and about Rs. bn. 40 worldwide.

Export promotion is very essential to develop the domestic floriculture industry. Development of effective partnerships among similar counterparts in other countries is useful to upgrade technical knowledge of the growers and to increase export volumes.

Non-availability of proper market centres and lack of market facilities Establish permanent exhibition centres in Colombo, Gampaha, Negombo and Kalutara Municipal areas with all infrastructural facilities for individual stalls.

Rotate dates for exhibitions during weekends among these centers to provide equal opportunities for all small and medium growers to market their products. This can be overcome by shortening the supply chain from grower to customer. Flower societies can sell their products directly to customs. This helps to increase the gross margin of growers.

Registered flower societies can sell their products at these sales centres.

Capturing niche markets to develop the domestic floriculture industry. niche markets available in the floriculture sector in the world include, production of dried flowers and leaves used for greeting cards, pictures, posters, book marks and manufacturing lamp shades etc. Essences and perfume industry is also a niche market for floricultural products. Natural products made out of flowers (eg. Food colorings from Hibiscus flowers) also have a niche market.

Non-availability of sufficient air cargo space and the sudden increase of air freight charges at the airport are problems to floricultural exporters. As a result, these perishable products will be delayed to the buyers.

These delays might badly affect the quality of the products. Apart from that, normally airlines charge US$ 2/kg but sometimes they charge US$ 3.50/kg due to supply and demand for air cargo. It is calculated that the total freight charge on floricultural exports is around 43% of the income earned from exports.

This cost is given through the airlines. With the other cost on transport and cost of plants or flowers, gross margins calculated are considerably less. Sudden increase of air freight charges also badly affect the industry.

It will increase the cost of production of these products. Exporters cannot pass these sudden increases of cost of production to their buyers. These are serious threats to the exporters and emerging exporters, signalling not to enter the export market.

It is also important to increase the number of sponsorship for small and medium scale nurserymen in attending trade fairs and exhibitions in foreign countries provide sponsorships for small and medium scale floriculture growers for attending trade fairs and exhibitions. Those privileges should not be benefited by officers.

Take immediate action to help medium scale floriculture growers to up-lift them to a level of large scale. Ministry support is essential for this activity. National Policy for the floriculture sector is essential to accommodate all stakeholders in the sector.