Rose exports expected to dip by 25% ahead of V-Day this year

No Indian airline provides perishable cargo services due to which growers have to depend on foreign carrier to export

- Shrinivas Deshpande

PUNE: Growers are expecting an around 25% dip in rose exports ahead of Valentine's Day (February 14) this year. Among the reasons for the expected dip are increased freight rates and a warmer winter that has discouraged growers from exporting flowers, according to officials of the Talegaon-based Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP).

As per statistics shared by the ISFP, India's rose exports reached ₹57.46 crore in 2018-19; ₹47.94 crore in 2019-20; ₹27.43 crore in 2020-21; ₹36.77 crore in 2021-22; ₹52.87 crore in 2022-23; and ₹54 crore in 2023-24.

According to Praveen Sharma, president of the ISFP, India's total rose exports touched ₹17 crore in November 2024 as compared to ₹22 crore in November 2023.

This rose season, the ISFP expects total rose exports to reach ₹45 crore as compared to ₹54 crore in the last rose season.

Sharma said, "The export market sees strong demand during Valentine's but Indian growers face challenges. Growers attempting to capitalise on Valentine's peak often struggle to find adequate airspace and reasonable freight rates.