Given the rupee fall, Floriculture of Northeast India facing heat over rising cost of imported planting materials

GUWAHATI: With free fall of Rupee against dollar continuing, floriculturist of Northeast India is feeling pangs as the import bill has increased by whooping 20 per cent.

Floriculture which is fast emerging as vibrant sector in bio diversity hot spot of Northeast India is heavily dependent on imported planting materials.

Plants, plastic sheets for green houses are imported from outside the country. Rajesh Prasad, Managing Director of Zopar group which deals in flower said, "Our import bill has increased by 20 per cent. We generally import to the tune of Rs 2 crore annually."

Zopar has annual turnover of Rs 20 crore provides consultancy to state government and supplies planting material to governments. Prasad said, "We were not very keen on exporting flowers as there is good domestic demand of flowers including Anthurium, orchid, Gerbera, Lilium and roses."

Prasad who is product of the Delhi School of Economics and IIM Ahmedabad owns two farms one in MIzoram and another in Meghalaya said the regions daily output of these flowers taken together will be not less than 30,000 pieces and 20,000 pieces comes from other Indian states.

Around 1000 farmers are associated with sector. Prasad said, "In supply of planting material to government we have to give it at earlier price which means huge loss to us as rupee is facing volatility."

He said the company had got lots of export related queries. "We have to explore the export options now or it will be difficult to survive."