Floriculture is a huge opportunity sector: K Rosaiah

COIMBATORE: India's floriculture industry has attained the status of a "huge opportunity sector" and is growing rapidly at 24 per cent per annum, Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah said today.

Participating as the chief guest in the 6th Indian Horticulture Congress 2014 here, Rosaiah said the Indian flower market, estimated at $ 11 billion now, is expected to grow up to $ 20 million by 2020.

"Our country has also achieved the highest productivity in grapes at 21.1 tonnes per hectare, fourth largest producer of oranges, fifth in the production of apples and sixth in pineapple production in the world," he said.

The four-day Congress is organised by Horticultural Society of India in association with Tamil Nadu Agricultural University with the theme 'Horticulture for Inclusive Growth'.

Rosaiah said agriculture remained the backbone of the Indian economy, providing livelihood to nearly 60 per cent of the population. The sector passed through a turbulent past in terms of famines and other natural calamities, malnutrition, insect pests, diseases and insurgence leading to food shortages during yesteryears.

He said that he remembered those days when regular meals were not available during nights in hotels in the erstwhile Madras State.

Tamil Nadu ranks fourth in production of fruits at 6.6 million tonnes in a total area of 3.09 lakh hectares. The total area under vegetables cultivation is 2.77 lakh hectares with a production of 7.8 million tonnes, the major crops being tomato, potato, brinjal, cauliflower and onion, he said.

It also remains as one of the states with all favourable features to produce cut flowers and loose flowers to meet national and international standards. It is the largest producer of loose flowers in India with a production of 3.12 million tonnes.