Local rose prices rise 6-fold on late monsoon

Production in Gujarat plunges 80%.

Delayed monsoon has painted a “not so rosy” picture for rose lovers this year. The prices of desi (local) variety of roses, which are used largely in religious festivals and marriages, have jumped substantially due to low production following the late onset of monsoon this year.

The prices of roses (desi variety) have jumped to Rs 120-140 a kg from Rs 20-40 a kg in past two months.

Players in local flower market attributed the reduction in production to delayed monsoon in Gujarat this year. The production in the state fell 80 per cent resulting in a rise in the prices of desi roses.

Usually the demand for these type of roses, which are grown in open fields, remains higher in the holy Shravan month of Hindu calendar. Ganesh Mahotsav also added to the growing demand of desi roses.

“As against the spiraling demand, the production was lower. The demand-supply gap fuelled the prices of desi variety of roses,” said Ahmedhussain Shaikh, president, Ahmedabad Wholesale Flower Merchants Association.

Apart from Gujarat, desi variety of rose is also grown in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The prices have firmed up in these parts of the country to Rs 60 a kg. However, the rise is comparatively lower than Gujarat as these two states have lower demand.

As far as rose farming is concerned, growers trim rose plants just before the arrival of monsoon. Cutting down the size of the rose plant not only saves the fertiliser costs but also help roses to bloom faster.

“The farmers had trimmed plants before monsoon and delay in the onset of rainy season adversely affected the plants leading to reduced production “, said a member of the association. The trend in case of cut roses, grown in green houses, is different.

“The prices of cut-flower roses, demand of which increases during marriages, have come down recently”, said Kumar Patel, director, Best Roses Biotech, based in Navsari of South Gujarat. However, prices are likely to cool down before the Navrastri festival as recent rains is going to help increase production in coming months.