Exports likely to exceed 2008 earnings:

Floriculture booms in foreign market

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Acrotrema uniflora - a native plant developed into a potted plant Chirita - hybrid created by local scientists

It's spring time for the Sri Lankan floriculture industry while the sector is blooming across the globe particularly in many Asian countries, as a subsistence replacement to agriculture. This is a live, growing industry in the world with an estimated average growth rate of 10% which is with a broader potential of providing direct and indirect job opportunities.

Presently floriculture products are exported mainly to European countries. In order to expand the world market it has been suggested to have proper and steady trade links with countries especially the Middle East and the Eastern Europe, the Netherlands, Japan, and the USA which account for nearly half of the world trade. In 2008 export earnings from floriculture products was around US$ 15 million (Rs.1500 million).

Floriculture exports in 2008 included 48% live plants, 46% fresh decorative leaves and 6% cut flowers. This was a turning point in the history of floriculture industry as in its inception in 1980s the foreign income was just around Rs. 1.6 million. "Since Sri Lanka has a diverse climatic condition suitable for numerous crops we have a greater potential to turn the floriculture industry profitable," Dr. Siril Wijesundara, Director General of the Department of National Botanic Gardens told the Sunday Observer explaining the expansion of the industry in Sri Lanka. "This is an industry with several advantages. It supports small, medium and large scale business ventures, has both the global and domestic market perspectives and is related to nature," Dr. Wijesundara further explained. According to Dr. Wijesundara the ability to use marginal lands for these cultivations, having a skilled labour force and the potential to provide more jobs to local people are the other plus points.

In Sri Lanka three broad categories can be identified in the industry - i.e. large scale export oriented enterprises, middle level and small scale ventures. The first group which is export companies involved in large scale export businesses is responsible for most of the profits of the industry. The middle level growers, being recent entrants to the export market, deal with a limited quantity of export produce. The third group, small-scale growers, caters only to the domestic market.

Our floriculture industry produce cut flowers, cut foliage, ornamental foliage plants, aquatic plants, landscaping plants, tissue culture plants and flower seeds for the world market as well as the local market.

Constraints

Solutions to limitations and needs of any growing industry, is crucial especially at a time when the world is facing an economic recession.

The problems should be addressed immediately and accurately for a greater impact. "Research and development are the keys to bring solutions to the needs of the industry as well as to its improvements," Dr. Wijesundara added. Surveys done by the Department of National Botanic Gardens have identified lack of new varieties, lack of technology and knowledge, inadequate market linkage are the main constraints the industry is facing.

To overcome these constraints the Department has developed certain varieties of flowering plants. "This bio diversity wealth could play a vital role in overcoming this constraint. And another problem faced by growers is the lack of quality planting material in large amounts for commonly grown floriculture crops," he added. Sri Lanka has 3771 species of flowering plants, out of which 926 are endemic. This is 28.3 % of the total number of species.

Apart from the previously mentioned needs and demands certain other factors provide a fertile soil for the industry to grow deep rooted.

The 'Green Channel' at the Bandaranaike International Airport provides a smooth passage for exporting perishable items like fresh flora. The regional trading hub now developed in South Asia is another positive towards the growth of the industry. Implementing the industry is easy since it is of an environment friendly nature. The Department develops the industry on three angles - i.e. Development of new varieties, improved growing techniques and empowering the growers. "The world market for floriculture changes frequently and today there is a high demand for potted plants and fresh decorative leaves," Dr. Wijesundara said.

"The new varieties we develop first need to be tested in the local and export markets to identify the demand. For those varieties receiving an encouraging response we need to find efficient ways to breed the varieties," he said highlighting that issues related to Intellectual Property Rights of new varieties is a crucial matter need to be considered. Growers need to be made aware of sophisticated management of pests and disease incidences, risk management due to such incidences and its prevention.

In order to upgrade the growers to more professional standards the Department has launched several programs providing on-site advice and special training programs. The Department has developed a database of Small and Medium Scale growers and as of to date around 2,000 growers are listed. In addition a database of Floriculture Scientists is also prepared by the Department and accordingly today there are 25 such scientists.

The Suwahas Mal program, a collective of floriculture growers of the country was initiated by the Department in 2005 with the objective of capacity building of middle and small scale growers by way of the following interventions. This initiated and established farmer organizations in various districts. Its islandwide programs assisted in infrastructure and human resource development and in marketing the products. Today 85 grower organisations are active in the Western, Central, Southern, Uva, Sabaragamuwa and Wayamba provinces. Grower organisations in selected districts were provided with material for infrastructure development as well as high quality imported mother plants for their cultivations.