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TOI : PUNE: With Valentine’s Day just four days away, around 60 lakh roses have been exported from Pune to various markets abroad in the last 10 days.

Starting January 30, export consignments comprising Dutch red roses have been exported to UK and other European countries.

According to officials of the Western India Floriculture Association (WIFA), the export of roses for Valentine’s Day this year is the same as last year.

Pune and Bangalore are the two major rose-growing areas in the country. These floriculture hubs offer the best climatic range. In the last couple of years there has been an increase in production and more land is being brought under floriculture in the state, including Pune district.

According to figures from the agriculture department, cut flower cultivation has gone up from 260 hectare (2006-07), yielding 4,770 lakh stems to 450 hectare (2009-10), yielding 8,250 lakh stems.

The demand increases during at this time as flower production in Europe records a decline due to winter. India, on the other hand, offers an ideal base for drawing fresh supplies, mainly Dutch roses, say floriculture experts.

Cut flower cultivation

* The area under cut flower cultivation (floriculture in green houses) in Pune district (2009-10) is 228 hectares and the production is approximately 4,190 lakh stems. There are 8 to 10 floriculture units in Pune and about 200 small and medium farmers are involved in this industry.

* Floriculture products are exported to countries like the Netherlands, UK, Japan, Australia and Germany.

Maharashtra figures

Year…………….area (hectare)…………production (in lakh)

2006-07…………….260 …………………………4,770 stems

2007-08……………..312…………………………5,730 stems

2008-09……………..375…………………………6,875 stems

2009-10……………..450…………………………8,250 stems Follow us on Twitter for TOI top stories Twitter Facebook Share Print Email Save Comment Text Size: | Related Articles On V-Day, Bajrang Dal men force couple to get ‘married’ Do we require V-Day to express love? Wary Sena tones down protests Transcendental…More