This Valentine's Day, plenty of heartache for India's rose cultivators
Rose growers in South India, mainly Hosur, have for many years spread the scent of love on Valentine's Day around the world. But the world seems to have jilted them for other options this time Love may be in the air for the rest of the world as it celebrates Valentine's Day on February 14. But for rose growers in Tamil Nadu, particularly those in Hosur, this Valentine season has been anything but rosy. The reason: People around the world seem to be jilting them and showering more love on their Kenyan counterparts. While Indian growers have seen their rose exports declining drastically amid stiff competition from Kenya, market prices in the existing markets have also fallen. And, these are happening at a time when the cultivation cost is rising, too. Earlier, Valentine’s Day on February 14 alone contributed 25-40 per cent of flower growers’ annual revenue. But not this time. Unlike 2017, which was drought year, flowers this year have been of a good quality,...