Rose demand fell by 50% on Valentine's Day

The slowdown in the financial market, which has squeezed purchasing power deeply, affected rose sales on Valentine's Day as the demand for flowers slumped by 50 per cent on this day.
    
Of 10 lakh roses, only five lakh flowers were sold in Delhi on the occasion of V-Day, which is celebrated on February 14 every year, according to the Delhi Cut Flower Association.
    
Wholesale and retail sellers attributed the fall in demand to economic slowdown, job cuts and some amount of impact from the Sriram Sene protest against "un-Indian culture".
   
"Due to (slowdown), there was hardly any demand for roses. Demand was less by 50 per cent this year," Delhi Cut Flower Association vice-president Ajay Barua said.
    
Hoping for a good sale this year, wholesalers ordered 10 lakh roses as compared to three lakh in 2008. However, sales could not pick due to poor purchasing power following the meltdown in the financial markets, he said.
    
Roses were selling at Rs 3-7 a piece in the wholesale markets, while they were quoted up to Rs 25 per piece in retail shops like Ferns and Petals. Last year, roses sold at Rs 10 a piece in the wholesale markets.