Hosur, Feb. 6 Over the next one year, Tanflora Infrastructure Park, one of the world’s largest rose exporters, plans to grow to twice its present size, enter consultancy services, set up infrastructure facilities in its overseas markets and export planting material.
Rs 64 cr investment
Addressing reporters on a tour of its facilities as a part of Tanflora’s annual press meet ahead of the Valentine’s day export season, Tanflora’s Managing Director, Mr Najeeb Ahmed, said the 54-hectare facility will add an equal sized farm with an estimated investment of over Rs 64 crore within one year. The additional facility will be in production by April 2010.
Tanflora, an equal joint venture between the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco), a State Government enterprise, and the Bengaluru-based MNA Associates, will hike the equity with the private promoters bringing in the requisite investments. The details of the investments are yet to be finalised but MNA Associates’ equity is set to increase substantially, he said.
Mr S. Ramasundaram, Chairman and Managing Director, Tidco, said the company has identified land elsewhere in Krishnagiri district.
Trebles exports
Tanflora began exports in 2007 with a million rose stems, trebled it in 2008 and during the fortnight ahead of the 2009 Valentine’s Day the company is set to export over 5-7 million rose stems. This year, its total exports would be around 30 million stems and in the next year 70 million stems.
Mr Ramasundaram also released a new variety of rose that would be exclusively cultivated and exported by Tanflora. The variety, Kohinoor, would be in the markets next year. The company plans to release one variety a year. A highlight of the current season would be the export of a million stems of Taj Mahal variety of roses, a rose exclusive to Tanflora. This would be the first commercial exports of the variety introduced in the international markets by Tanflora last year, he said.
Tanflora has tied up with 10 of the 12 internationally famous rose breeders. The existing facility would slowly move towards cultivation of these exclusive varieties while the new facility would be for all other export varieties of roses, he said.
Mr Najeeb Ahmed said the international market for rose stems continues to remain active despite the general slowdown.
Flowers are low-priced but have high sentimental and emotional value for those who give and those who receive. So the market continues to boom, he said.
Primary markets
The main markets for Indian roses are Europe, Australia, West Asia and the Far East. The company is in the process of entering into long term supply arrangements with leading exporters in these markets.
Tanflora is also getting into multiplication of planting material for exports and manufacturing readymade flower arrangements for direct marketing to retail chains. The company plans to export over a million plants in the coming year. Hosur can be developed as a major centre for cultivation and export of roses, Tanflora which has developed the expertise will offer its expert assistance through a consultancy division to small growers. Apart from exports the company also sells in the major metros in the domestic market.
Source : Business Line