One day workshop on “Kerala Floriculture: Potential and Constraints”
Venue
:Seminar hall, College of Horticulture
Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara
Date & Time
: 19.12.2019, 10.00 AM to 2.30 PM
Floriculture is a diversified activity involving enterprises like production of cut flowers such as rose, gerbera, orchid, anthurium, gladiolus, production of loose flowers like marigold, chrysanthemum, gomphrena, jasmine, nerium, ixora, cut foliage, pot plants, dry flowers, cultivation for aromatic oils and natural colors. Kerala with varied agro climatic situations is a state with ample scope for floriculture. The sub tropical conditions of Idukki and Wayanad districts are very much suitable for commercial cultivation of flowers like rose, gerbera, anthuriums, orchids like phalaenopsis, various bulbous crops, foliage plants viz. silver dollar, buxus, laetherleaf fern, hosta, etc. In the plains of Kerala, flowers like tropical orchids, anthurium, bush jasmine, seasonal flowers like, marigold, chrysanthemum, gomphrena etc. can be cultivated. Kerala is a progressive state when infrastructure is taken into consideration. There exists a good network of roads and four international air ports. A well literate human resource is another added asset.
Despite these facilities, floriculture in Kerala is in its infancy. However, some changes have been noticed recently that might have effected due to a lull in income from cash crops. When a steady income from rubber, coconut, cardamom, black pepper, coffee etc. could not be anticipated, some farmers adopted flower cultivation to stabilise their income. There have been some successful cultivation of flowers like gerbera, liliums and various foliage crops in areas of Idukki – Kanthalloor, Nedungadum, Kumily. Successful attempts could also be cited in Kottayam, Ernakulam and Malappuram districts where foliage plants are grown profitably as intercrop in rubber plantations by farmers. But all these are a few when the potential is considered.
Many of the constraints faced by farmers in production and marketing of flowers is due to lack of this group effort which is very essential for creation of a steady market. Another problem faced by farmers is the lack of a platform for marketing without intermediaries. Farmers of Idukki and Wayanad need a marketing outlet at Ernakulam and Kozhikode respectively. In order to reduce the post - harvest losses, cold storage facility and refrigeratedtrucksare needed for transportation of flowers to the market. Though we have four international air ports, do lack the interim facilities for storing flowers and pot plants intended for international markets. Also there is a lack of publicity for our flowers and foliage in international markets. Farmers are to be encouraged to participate in international flower exhibitions. Moreover, farmers are to be imparted with awareness regarding the procedures to enter into international flower markets. Awareness should also be created about various projects facilitated by different agencies like SHM, NHB, APEDA ,Directorate of Marketing & Inspection, improve basic facilities for floriculture. The schemes of department of Agricultural Development and Farmers welfare should be revised as per the present floriculture scenario and problems faced by the farmers should be solved. The service to flori farmers could be improved if this sector is also included in the scenario of VFPCK which is currently involved only in fruits and vegetables. Flowers being highly perishable, the transport for domestic and international markets should be exempted from the frequent hartals in Kerala.
- Dr Anita Cherian, Associate Dean (i/c), College of Horticulture welcomed the gathering. Dr U Sreelatha, Professor and Head, AICRP Floriculture gave report on the status and prospects of floriculture in Kerala. Dr Mini Deputy Director( Horticulture) ,Thrissur represented the State Horticulture Mission and given a presentation on SHM projects, followed by Felicitation by Dr Sarah T John Deputy Director( Horticulture) ,Wayanad who discussed about the problems faced by floriculture sector in Wayanad. Development of marketing infrastructures in Floriculture was presented by Dr Prasadh Chakarborthy (Assistant Agricultural Marketing Advisor) Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Kochi. Farmers involved in flowe5r and foliage cultivation presented their problems faced in marketing and logistics. The Director of Research Kerala Agricultural University enlightened the scope of floriculture in Kerala. Hon. Minister for Agriculture, Adv. Sri.V.S. Sunikumar discussed about measures to solve farmers’ problems and to upgrade the floriculture in Kerala as a profitable enterprise in the near future.
