It is Roses and Dollars at Hosur as Valentine's day approaches

Hosur, Feb 7 (PTI) As Valentine's Day approaches, it is
literally raining roses and dollars in Hosur, the resourceful
small town in Krishnagiri district of India's southern Tamil
Nadu, thanks to the burgeoning exports of roses which remain
unaffected by global meltdown.

Come February 14, sweethearts across Europe, South East
Asia, Australia, Middle East, Russia and CIS countries,
perhaps, would greet each other on Valentine's Day with Indian
roses, a vast majority of which was exported from Hosur.

Just a decade and half ago, Hosur region bordering Tamil
Nadu and Karnataka was a barren land where farmers used to eke
out living through rain fed crops like Ragi.

Then came the roses which grew in abundance here thanks
to the salubrious climate that changed the landscape of the
area and lives of farming community here.

Exports of cut roses from Hosur, which accounts for 80
per cent or Indian rose exports is likely to touch Rs 100
crore in the next five years from the present Rs 30 crore,
Najeeb Ahmed, Managing Director, state run Tanflora,
Infrastructure Park Limited, an agri export zone for roses in
Hosur, told PTI here.

Ahmed said export of roses from Hosur area on Valentine's
Day alone increased to three million in 2008 from one million
in 2007. This Valentine's Day, rose exports were expected to
touch five million, he said.

This year the roses will gain more popularity as two new
varieties of roses -- Taj Mahal and Kohinoor -- have been
introduced.

Thanks to high-tech floriculture, a vast stretch of
barren land which mostly remained unused or used to grow
rain-fed crops has now become a source of earning for farmers
in the region.

Floriculture industry promoters in India have found the
area that include hillock tracts of Ragaluur, Berigai,
Kelamangalam, Denkanikotta, Amudhagondapalli, Sollagiri,
Thally, Anchetty and Madhogondapalli most suitable for growing
cut flowers, rose in particular, which is most sought after
commodity in the global market, especially European countries.

The year-long salubrious climate prevailing in Hosur
region, which is situated 3,000 feet above sea level, helps
the farmers grow cut flowers adopting latest technology
through green house plantation method, said V Chidambaram,
Horticulture Officer of Krishnagiri District Horticulture
Department.

He said around 250 government-assisted and 55 privately
owned green house cutflower production units are located in
Hosur and Denkanikotta area.