Floriculture in UP and its impact in the development of UP |ForumIAS

The Uttar Pradesh government has joined hands with the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), to prepare a roadmap for the promotion of flower farming (floriculture) in the state under the National Floriculture Mission launched by the Centre. UP has immense potential for the development of floriculture.

Floriculture in UP — Source- Invest India

Table of Contents

What has been the history of development of floriculture in Uttar Pradesh (UP)?
What are the UP govt’s scheme for the development of floriculture in the state?
What is the significance of floriculture in the development of UP?
What are the challenges with floriculture in UP?
What should be the way forward?

What has been the history of development of floriculture in Uttar Pradesh (UP)?

Ancient and traditional Roots	Flower cultivation and use have been part of UP’s culture for centuries. Regions like Varanasi, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya traditionally used flowers for religious rituals, festivals, decoration and ayurveda & perfume. Kannauj, since ancient times, has been a hub for attar (perfume), especially rose essence, due to its skilled distillers and availability of roses.
Post-Independence (1950–1980)- Phase of Initial Expansion	As urban centers (Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi) grew, demand for flowers increased. Government horticulture departments started extension programs, demonstrations of improved varieties and small nurseries for planting material.
Introduction of Commercial Floriculture (1980–1990)	Green Revolution indirectly pushed diversification into high-value crops. Farmers in districts like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Kannauj began cultivating Rose, Tuberose and Gladiolus.
Economic Liberalization & Market Awareness (1990-2020)	Liberalisation in 1991 opened global markets. India began focusing on export-oriented floriculture, especially cut flowers. UP farmers gained awareness about High-value flowers, Nursery business, and Bouquet and wedding market demand.
Modernization & Government Push (2020-Present)	UP Government introduced 50–70% subsidy on polyhouses, Mandi fee waiver for flower farmers, and support for value-added flower products. CSIR-NBRI (Lucknow) partnered with the govt for new flower varieties (Namoh 108 lotus), training farmers, and scientific cultivation practices. There has been expansion of flower clusters in Varanasi region, Bundelkhand and Western UP.

What are the UP govt’s scheme for the development of floriculture in the state?

Integrated Horticulture Development Mission (M.I.D.H.) – National Horticulture Mission	The scheme aims to provide for all-round growth of the horticulture sector by comparative advantage of the state/region. It aims to increase horticultural production, improve nutrition safety and help the farmers for income generation. The major districts which are covered are as follow-Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Mathura, Agra etc.
Phalpatti Development Plan Guidelines 2017-18	The scheme to promote the horticulture by developing fruit and flower belts. The scheme aims to increase in the production capacity in the unproductive gardens by implementing the canopy management/renovation.
Horticulture Development Scheme (State Sector) for SC/ST farmers	The scheme provides subsidy to help the SC/ST farmers to enhance their productivity of floriculture.

What is the significance of floriculture in the development of UP?

1. Enhanced farmer’s income- Flowers provide higher returns per acre compared to traditional crops like wheat or rice. For ex- Varanasi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh farmers earn 3–5 times more from marigold and tuberose cultivation than from cereals.

2. Enhanced rural employment- Floriculture is labour-intensive which creates job opportunities for women, youth and landless labourers. For ex- Women SHGs involved in floriculture in Auraiya district.

3. Growth of allied industries- Floriculture supports the growth of allied industries such as perfumes, essential oils, gulkand, nursery and landscaping. For ex- Kannauj is called the “Perfume Capital of India”, using roses grown locally for attar production, rose oil, and gulkand.

4. Boosts Export and State Economy- Flowers from UP, especially rose, chrysanthemum and fillers, are supplied to Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Gulf Countries (UAE, Qatar, Oman).

5. Supports Tourism, Culture and Religious Economy- UP is a major centre of religious and cultural tourism, requiring large quantities of flowers. At temples in Varanasi, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya, huge daily flower consumption supports local flower growers.

What are the challenges with floriculture in UP?

1. Lack of Modern Infrastructure- Most farmers still grow flowers in open fields, exposed to weather fluctuations. There are limited polyhouses, shade nets, cold storages and refrigerated transport.

2. Post-Harvest Losses- Flowers are highly perishable and require immediate cooling and proper packaging. UP lacks adequate Grading centers, Packing units, and cold rooms. For ex- Marigold and tuberose farmers in Varanasi region report up to 25–40% losses during peak summer.

3. Limited Access to Quality Planting Material- High-yield varieties and disease-free planting material (like tissue-culture plants) are not easily available. Many farmers rely on low-quality local seeds, reducing flower size and market value. For ex- Gerbera growers in Hapur struggle to find standard planting material and depend on imports from Bengaluru or Pune.

4. Market Fluctuations & Price Instability- Flower prices drop sharply after the festive/wedding season. Oversupply during certain months leads to distress selling.

5. Inadequate Marketing Channels- There is heavy dependence on middlemen. There is lack of farmer cooperatives or producer companies for collective marketing.

6. Pest and Disease Problems- Flowers are sensitive to thrips, aphids, powdery mildew, and root rot. Lack of timely crop protection measures leads to economic losses.

What should be the way forward?

1. Strengthen Modern Infrastructure- Expand polyhouses, shade nets and greenhouses with higher subsidies. Establish cold storages, pack houses, grading centers, and refrigerated vans.

2. Improve Quality Planting Material- Good seed and planting material is the backbone of floriculture. Increase availability of tissue-culture plants through public nurseries. Partner with CSIR-NBRI and universities to release new varieties.

3. Develop Organized Marketing Systems- Establish dedicated flower markets/auction centers in Varanasi, Lucknow, Noida and Meerut. Create farmer producer companies (FPCs) to strengthen bargaining power.

4. Enhance Market Linkages and Export Orientation- UP must connect farmers to high-value markets. Develop export clusters for roses (Kannauj), tuberose (Varanasi), and gerbera (Meerut).

5. Promote Value Addition & Allied Industries- Floriculture becomes highly profitable when combined with processing. Encourage production of attar, rose oil, gulkand, dried flowers, floral teas, pot-pourri.

Source- Hindustan Times