T.M. Aravind, president of the South India Floriculture Association, was shocked when he heard the news about Karnataka government banning the practice of giving garland, shawls and other gift items at government events, terming it an unnecessary expenditure. The government move was surprising as it the ban was imposed without consulting their association or other floriculturists in the state.
“The ban was sudden. There is no logic or scientific reason behind the ban. As per Indian tradition, flowers and bouquets are gifted to generate positive energy,” Aravind told THE WEEK.
Many floriculturists in and around Bengaluru and other regions of the state feel that the ban will further hamper the revival prospects of the flower industry in the region, particularly in Bengaluru which accounts for around 80 per cent of flower requirements of the country. With no events and prolonged lockdowns for more than a year, floriculture industry in the state is already reeling under heavy losses.
“Due to the pandemic there are no government events. Marriage ceremonies are not happening and there are no major events in the state. At a time when we were hoping for a revival post the pandemic, the state government has suddenly come up with this ban. It should be immediately lifted,” added Aravind.
Shrikanth Bollapally, president of Flower Council of India, said floriculture is an extensive employment generation sector, and around 7,500 hectares of area across Karnataka is being used to cultivate flowers under green houses (greenhouse floriculture). Besides, there are huge tracts of land that is being used for growing flowers without greenhouses across the state.
“An average of six to seven people are employed for cultivating flowers over one acre of land. Bengaluru is the hub of floriculture in the state and the country. It is also a hub for flower exports, and within the country too. Flowers, especially rose flowers, are auctioned on a daily basis in the city and are then transported abroad and within the country under cold storage conditions. The industry that is gradually growing for the last 25 years will be severely crippled by this ban,” remarked Bollapally.
Floriculturists in the state make huge investments to set up green houses for flower cultivation. Bengaluru, due to its altitude and salubrious weather, is perfectly suited for flower cultivation that is grown throughout the year especially rose flowers.
“This ban will be a huge loss to the greenhouse flower growers. If they want to ban something, they can ban plastic flowers that are imported from China. The idea of giving books is also not a good idea as they are printed on paper made out of wood. On an average 15 people work on one hectare of land under flower cultivation. Setting up the greenhouse and cold storage on one hectare of land on an average requires around Rs 1.35 crore of investment. On an average, around 3 lakh roses are auctioned in Bengaluru on a daily basis. They are then transported within the state and rest of the country and even abroad after the auction,” Dr. Jayaprakash Rao, a major flower grower of Bengaluru told THE WEEK.
There is a general feeling among the floriculturists that if the ban is not lifted in Karnataka, many other states in the country may follow suit and impose such bans, leading to further losses for the floriculture industry in the country. The association members are planning to hold a protest in the city on August 12, 2021 against the sudden ban.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, the South India Floriculture Association has requested him to revoke the ban with immediate effect. The association said the flower growers in the state have undergone huge losses during the lockdown and even though they were not making any revenues, they still need to maintain their plants and pay their labourers. In such a situation, they want the government to ban artificial flowers that are imported from China and revoke the ban on bouquets, garlands etc. in order to encourage farmers growing natural flowers.
