Tamil roses to carry Valentine's message across globe

CHENNAI: For this year's Valentine's Day, thousands of lovers across the world will exchange the symbol of love - a rose - with a 'Made in India' tag.

A week ahead of February 14, orders were pouring in from around the world for roses grown in southern India's 'floral corridor' that spreads from Hosur in northwestern Tamil Nadu to neighbouring Bangalore.
 
More than 60-odd farms, growing roses on hundreds of acres between Hosur and Bangalore, were receiving orders from as far as Europe, Australia, Middle East, Japan and the UK.

"We have recently received orders for one million roses from Australia for the Valentine's Day. Besides, there are heavy bookings from European and Middle East countries and Japan," Tanflora Infrastructure Park Limited Managing Director Najeeb Ahmed told.

"Every year there is more than 50 per cent increase in demand, especially during February," he added.
 
The floriculture industry in Hosur region was now in a growth mode with a 50 per cent increase in demand for roses in domestic and export markets compared to previous years.

The production of roses from Hosur, which accounted for nearly 35 per cent of the country's total productivity, was rapidly increasing with new investments coming up in the industrial town.

Spread over 50 hectares in Amudagondapalli village near Hosur town, Tanflora is Asia's largest rose production centre, growing a whopping 30 million roses every year.