The idea of cultivating roses in open fields in India is based on hi-tech method. Investments are much lower. And, compared to traditional flower growing the returns are much higher. This type of high-tech floriculture is in between the traditional open field cultivation as performed in India in several areas and the green house cultivation.
Areas for cultivating spray roses
Areas with suitable climatic conditions are those with rather constant appropriate air humidity levels, fresh nights and reasonable day temperatures, over most of the year, with exception perhaps of the months of April and May.
Availability of fertile soils and abundance of water year around. Agriculture and horticulture is performed in a long standing traditional and high professional manner.
Further area specific advantages:
Adaptability of growers to cultivation techniques, eagerness to find new challenges in the horticulture industry.
Intercropping with e.g. coconut trees is possible. Infact it is a tremendous economic advantage.
Reasonable distance from the market or distribution point.
Cultivation
Spray roses have 8-12 flowers per stem and are grown in the open fields. Production in the open field is at the rate of about 125 flowers per sq.m at an average stem length of 50 cms. The plants are much more resistant against diseases and less demanding regarding climatic conditions. Cultural handling, integrated pest controls and appropriates fertilization and irrigation has to be undertaken.
Post harvest
The flowers have to be harvested in the proper stage, which is very tight. This makes the flowers very resistant to further handling, like grading and bunching, packing and transport. Vase life after harvest is about two weeks.
Logistics and transport
Co-operation between several growers in the same area seems to offer the growers a tremendous advantage regarding costs and recognition as floriculture area.
Marketing
The flowers offer a good potential both in the local as well as in the international market. Shared cooling facilities and transport will reduce the investment cost. Well defined and implemented quality standards will allow the establishment of a market share.
Ag.
Technologies
(Hi-Tech Agriculture)
