Increasing domestic demand and a growing export market have ensured a rosy future for the floriculture industry. Find out the blossoming opportunities:

'Say it with roses!' How often have you seen that phrase on shopping websites! With a growing populace willing to use flowers to convey all their emotions with ease, it is no surprise that floriculture has become a sunrise career option for those with the flair for it.

Floriculture is...
Floriculture includes cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for sale or for use as raw materials in the cosmetics or perfume industry, as well as in the pharmaceutical sector. However, today the emphasis on floriculture is not just in creating exotic species for decorative and commercial purposes, but also improving regular varieties, and developing mass-cultivation techniques for increased productivity.
In India, this industry comprises flower trade, production of nursery plants and potted plants, seed and bulb production, micro propagation and extraction of essential oils. The domestic demand is growing at a rate of over 25 per cent and international demand is at around Rs 90,000 crore. However, India's share in the international market of flowers is negligible at a mere 0.2 per cent. Dr K V Prasad, Senior Scientist, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), is of the opinion that the government can do much more to increase India's share in the global market. He goes on to say, "Rationalisation of land ceiling limits, parity in the power tariff, extended transport subsidies, state-of-the-art cool chain facilities, and transit hubs at strategic locations are some of the areas where government intervention is required."

Exports
Export of flowers can be categorised into loose flowers, cut flowers and dry flowers. India grows many exclusive varieties of ornamental flowers, usually exported in the form of seeds or capsules. Roses, marigolds, chrysanthemums and jasmine are among the popular varieties and about 10,000 hectares of total cultivated area in the country is devoted to growing them. Cut roses form the lion’s share of exports to Europe and the US. The export of loose flowers is restricted to the Middle East for expatriate Indians.

Growth prospects
Experts believe that the Indian floriculture industry is poised for high growth. Enormous genetic diversity, varied agro climatic conditions, versatile human resources etc, are certain factors that contribute to it.
Exports have registered an impressive growth from Rs 18.83 crore in 1993-94 to Rs 298.57 crore in 2005-06. R K Mondal, Regional In-Charge, APEDA, Mumbai says, "Dry flowers are the future of this industry. It will be the highest foreign exchange earner for the industry."
According to Dr Prasad, "Other factors like the retail revolution, contract farming of flowers for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds, essential oils and other value added products would further fuel the industry."

Employment opportunities
One can find employment in the floriculture industry as a farm/ estate manager, plantation expert, supervisor, or project coordinator. Research and teaching are some other avenues of employment in the field.
Marketing of floricultural products for different ventures is emerging as a potential segment in the field. In addition to these careers, which involve research and actual growing of crops, floriculture also provides service career opportunities, which include such jobs as floral designers, groundskeepers, landscape designers, architects and horticultural therapists. Such jobs will require direct client interaction.

Future in the field
According to Megha Borse, new genre floriculturist and the President of Flower Growers' Association, Maharashtra, you need to really work hard on the field to make a living in this industry. She says, "Floriculture, after all, is an industry and has to be managed in a planned, methodical manner. The best part of floriculture is that it is not dependent on weather. It gives you assured produce and guaranteed income. The investment was approximately Rs 13 lakh to begin with (excluding land cost) for a 1000 square metre green house. Today, it is easy to get loans from banks. There are also many supportive schemes from National Horticulture Board, National Horticulture Mission and Agriculture departments."
“The golden rule is to be innovative and constantly evolve novel ideas and products that are in sync with the current global trends," says Dr Prasad.

Training talk
The best option is to acquire a four-year BSc (horticulture) degree or to study horticulture as a subject in a BSc (agriculture) degree programme. Subsequently, an MSc in horticulture, and a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship is ideal.

Institutes
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (http://www.iari.res.in/) Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore (http://www.iihr.res.in/) National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (http://www.nbri-lko.org/) Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri (http://mpkv.mah.nic.in/) (Indicative listing)

Source: Education Times.