September 2, 2014
Bengal shines in floriculture, shows ASSOCHAM report
West Bengal has been the highest producerof cut flowers, of over 250 crore pieces, in the domestic market and recordedthe highest compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 597 per cent duringfive-year period of 2007-08 and 2011-12, ASSOCHAM noted in a study. This hashappened despite shrinkage in area under floriculture in the State.
West Bengal was also at the top in terms ofshare of flower production (about 34 per cent) in the country's total output of740 crore pieces in 2011-12, the industry body said.
West Bengal ranked eighth in terms ofproduction of loose flowers. The State produces about 64,000 tonne looseflowers clocking a CAGR of over seven per cent during the aforesaid period. Thecountry's loose flower production is growing at a CAGR of over 17 per cent asIndia produces over 16.5 lakh tonne annually.
The area under flower production in theState, however, shrunk from about 27,000 hectares in 2007-08 to about 24,000hectares in 2011-12, a study prepared by the ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau(AERB) found.
ASSOCHAM said that about two lakh peoplewere estimated to be involved in cut flower production in the State, blessedwith diverse agro-climatic conditions.
