Now, grow gerberas in open fields
February 12, 2021
C Ashwath, Principal Scientist and Head of Floriculture and Medicinal Plants at IIHR×
ICAR-IIHR’s open gerbera varieties can cut down on royalties to the European breeders
Anyone can grow gerberas, the decorative flowers, anywhere soon. Thanks to the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture, Bengaluru, that has developed two new gerbera varieties that can be grown by farmers in the open fields, unlike in the greenhouse currently.
These two varieties have the potential to revolutionise the cultivation of gerberas, which are grown on about 2,000 hectares in greenhouses. Also, these two varieties can help cut down the royalty being paid by the Indian growers to breeders in Europe.
As export markets wilt, roses look to bloom on home turf
February 12, 2021
Trade sees a pick-up in domestic demand this Valentines season
As flight connectivity to the UK and Europe, key markets for Indian roses, remains disrupted on account of Covid, the growers are forced to rely on the domestic market this Valentine’s season.
Valentines is the main season for the rose growers and shipments this year, so far, are only a third of the normal on muted demand.
“We have seen only 30-40 per cent of the normal demand for the season as small exports are taking place to countries such as Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai. However, there are no exports taking place to Europe, our main market, due to the Covid lockdown” said Shrikant Bollapally, President, Growers Flower Council of India, a growers’ body.