Landscaping and Commercial Floriculture - 2 | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Present status of floriculture in India

The demand for floriculture has significantly increased as a result of changes in people's lifestyles and increases in per capita income. The ongoing increase in demand for flowers and their products has made it one of the profitable trades today. 

• According to the National Horticultural Database, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana are the states that produce the most flowers.
• The production of cut flowers, loose flowers, dried flowers, nursery plants, potted plants, seed industry, essential oil extraction, and value-added products are among the different sectors of revenue generation in the floral industry.
• To meet the demand for flower seeds, a number of seed companies have set up production facilities in States that are known for producing flowers.
• Punjab, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have long-standing businesses producing seasonal flowers and seeds.
• Six agri-export zones for floriculture have been established by the Indian government in Maharashtra, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu (two zones), Uttarakhand, and Karnataka.
• The main nations that ship floriculture products to India are the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates. India's floriculture industry is developed, promoted, and exported under the auspices of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

Prospects of floriculture in India

India has a long-standing custom of cultivating flowers. It is regarded as a high growth industry in our nation. The government's policies have led to an increase in flower production focused on exports.
The following are the areas of floriculture in India:

• The increasing opportunities for floriculture can be attributed to urbanization, the increasing purchasing power of individuals, and the diverse applications of flowers in aesthetics.
• There is a growing daily demand for floricultural plants and their products, including bouquets, garlands, venison, and value-added items like potpourris and dry flowers. They are necessary for a number of events and festivals.
• Our nation is ideally situated between two of the world's largest flower markets—Europe and East Asia—both strategically and geographically.
• Every kind of flower can grow in any season due to the country's varied agroclimatic conditions.
• Nowadays, landscaping is an essential part of urban horticulture, which not only makes a place look better, but also safeguards the environment, lowers noise and air pollution, and encourages ecotourism.
• Establishing and maintaining a lawn is a lucrative business that is now essential to landscaping. Both skilled and unskilled human resources are needed.
• The use of turf or lawn grasses, vertical gardening, roof gardening, etc., is expanding in light of climate change.
• Growing industrialization and the loss of arable land have created opportunities for the production and sale of potted plants. These have also created opportunities for the rental of plants for interior design in corporate buildings, hotels, etc.
• The nursery industry is emerging as a lucrative business with strong returns. High-quality flower seeds, especially F1 hybrids, are in demand. 
• In our nation, protected or high-tech flower cultivation has a bright future. Here, the area dedicated to intensive flower production can be expanded in order to boost exports of floriculture products.
• The extraction of natural dyes, pharmaceutical and naturaceutical compounds, essential oils, and other compounds from flower plants is a significant and potentially profitable industry.

Classification of ornamental plants

Ornamental plants can be classified in the following manner.

Based on Life Span

• Annuals: Annual ornamental plants complete their entire life cycle, from seed germination to seed production, within a single growing season or year. They must be replanted every season. Common examples of annuals include China aster, coreopsis, gomphrena, marigold, petunia, tithonia, verbena, and zinnia.
• Biennials: Biennial ornamental plants require two growing seasons or years to complete their seed-to-seed life cycle. They typically undergo vegetative growth in one season and flowering and seed formation in another. Some examples of biennials are amaranthus, celosia, hollyhock, pansy, and snapdragon. Like annuals, biennials also need to be replanted.
• Perennials: Perennial ornamental plants have a life cycle that extends beyond two years. They consistently produce seeds or flowers every year once they reach the bearing stage, eliminating the need for replanting.
  Perennials are further categorized into two groups:
  a. Woody Perennials: Woody perennials comprise trees, shrubs, and vines with woody stems and branches. Examples of woody perennials include Cassia siamea, C. fistula, Peltophorum, Cassia biflora, Lawsonia alba, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Petrea volubilis, Quisquallis indica, and Vernonia eleagniaefolia.
  b. Herbaceous Perennials: Herbaceous perennials have soft, non-woody main stalks. Some examples of herbaceous perennials are anthurium, bird of paradise, geranium, gerbera, heliconia, pelargonium, periwinkle, portulaca, perennial balsam, sweet violet, and viola. These plants do not require replanting and persist for several years.

Based on season of growth

• Winter Season Annuals: Winter season annuals are resilient plants that can thrive during the harsh conditions of winter, enduring low temperatures. Seeds for these annuals are typically sown in the months of September and October, with seedlings being transplanted in October or November. Examples of winter season annuals include candytuft, antirrhinum, larkspur, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, phlox, sweet sultan, and verbena.
• Summer Season Annuals: Summer season annuals are suitable for growing in the heat of summer and can withstand high temperatures to produce flowers. The seeds for these annuals are usually sown at the end of February or the beginning of March, with seedlings being transplanted at the end of March or in April. Some examples of summer season annuals include cosmos, gaillardia, gomphrena, kochia, portulaca, sunflower, tithonia, and zinnia.
• Rainy Season Annuals: Rainy season annuals are specifically cultivated during the rainy season and can bloom under conditions of high humidity and rainfall, distinct from other annuals. These annuals are typically planted from seeds in June, and the seedlings are transplanted in July. Examples of rainy season annuals encompass amaranthus, balsam, celosia, cock's comb, gaillardia, and similar plants.

Based on market value

• Loose Flowers: Loose flowers are flowers that are harvested without their stalks. Examples of loose flowers include barleria, bedding dahlia, calotropis, chrysanthemum (spray type), chandni, crossandra, eranthemum, gaillardia, jasmine, kamini, kaner (yellow and red), lotus, marigold, rose (fragrant desi type), shoe flower (hibiscus), sunflower, tuberose, water lily, and others. These flowers are commonly used for creating rangoli, gajra, veni, garlands, and for religious offerings at homes and places of worship.
• Cut Flowers: Cut flowers refer to fresh flowers, flower buds, or spikes that are harvested along with their stalks, and the length of the stalks is specified for each flower. Examples of cut flowers include alpinia, anthurium, antirrhinum, bird of paradise, carnation, freesia, gerbera, gladiolus, gypsophila, heliconia, iris (bulbous), lupins, narcissi, orchid, rose (improved varieties), scabiosa, statice, tuberose, watsonia, and more. These flowers are primarily used for creating bouquets and vase arrangements.
• Flowers Yielding Value-Added Products: Flowers in this category serve as raw materials for various industries, including the extraction of essential oils and the production of edible products like gulkand, rose water, and natural color pigments. Additionally, they can be used as dry flowers, and examples include acroclinum, jasmine, marigold, rose, and others.

Based on plant type

• Herbaceous Plants: Herbaceous plants include species like Lilium, verbena, and viola. These plants are characterized by soft, non-woody stems and are often used for their attractive flowers or foliage.
• Shrubs: Shrubs comprise plants such as bougainvillea, jasmine, lawsonia, hamelia, nyctanthes, rose, tecoma, and others. These ornamental plants are typically woody, with multiple stems and branches, and are often cultivated for their blossoms or aesthetic foliage.
• Trees: The category of trees includes species like gulmohar, palash, amaltas, kadamb, and pride of India. These are larger, woody plants with a single main stem and extensive branches, commonly appreciated for their striking appearance and shade.
• Climbers and Creepers: Climbers and creepers encompass plants like Adenocalymma, antigonon, Rangoon creeper, madhulata, petrea, and thunbergia. These plants are known for their ability to climb and cover various structures, often producing vibrant flowers as part of their ornamental appeal.