CURRENT NEEDS AND FUTURE

CHALLENGES OF FLOWER SEED

INDUSTRY IN INDIA VIS-A-VIS
GLOBAL SEED TRADE

By: Dr. V.S. Patil

Professor and Head, Dept. of Horticulture, College of
Agriculture, Hanumanamatti
Flower seed production is a lucrative business
And offers high returns per unit area.
The consumption of flowers seed is increasing
world over and in India.
Production of flower seeds is expanding as an
industry globally and market for flower seeds
is expanding in domestic and international
markets
Flower seed producers
Breeding companies
 Contract seed production companies
 Local seed growers, produce seed on contract
 SAU’s and research institutes- IARI,IIHR etc and National
 state seed corporations
 Open field production- OP seeds
 Green house production- F1 hybrids
Major flower seed producing countries
China, Thailand, Indonesia, Chile, Peru, Mexico,
Gutemala, Germany, Holland, UK,USA,
India,Vietnam,, Japan. Israel, France, Turkey, Korea,
Singapore,, Columbia, Costarica, California, Srilanka,
Kenya, Maxico
Major Flower seed production areas in
India
1.LUDHIANA
2.BANGALORE/DHARWAD/RANEBENNUR
3.OOTY
4.KASHMIR/SREENAGAR
5.KOLIMPONG
6.RANCHI
7.KULU
8.TERAI
10.CHANDIGARH
Factors promoting flower seed industry in India
1.Ever increasing demand
2.Varied agro climatic conditions
3.Cheap labor availability
4.Vast domestic and international market
5.Government support to boost export- Govt. of India has declared
flower seed industry as high thrust area and announced policies to
favor flower seed production and export
6.High profitability- know your product and market well.

7.Libaralization of industrial and trade policies

 Four basic factors in developing
efficient flower seed programme
1.Assesment of world flower seed demand, its
consistency or stability and the approximate pricing
structure
2.Identifiying best areas for quality seed production and
determination of export potential based on the existing
global demand for flower seed and facilities available
3.Promotion of both internal and international flower
seed trade
4. Development of basic infrastructure for the
production of flower seeds.
 Flower seed production -Undergone
unrestricted revolutionary growth due to
Advancement in Seed production technology
Development in production packaging,
Handling, transportation and marketing
Hybrid vigor is exploited in flowers
F1 hybrids are available in all flowers (AtoZ)
CREATIVE APPROACHES EMPLOYED IN
F1 FLOWER SEED PRODUCTION

1.Use of male sterile lines

2.Synthetic/ artificial seed production
3.Use of vacuum pump for pollen collection
4.Use of infrared light for dehiscence of
anthers
5.Long term storage of pollen grains
6.Use of pollination aids to overcome tedious
hand pollination techniques
Major Goals of Floriculture seed industry to
Increase the floriculture production through the
spread of high quality seeds are-
1.Rapid multiplication
2.Timely supply
3.Assured high quality seeds
4.Reasonable price
Influence of Flower seed industry on
economy
1.Income generation
2.Empolyment generation
3. Foreign exchange earning
Special feature of growing flower seeds
1.Specalised trained skills
2.knowledge and vigilance
3.Technical background/ scientific knowledge
4.Each species require individual attention
5.High seed quality
6.Great skill in production, processing, packaging and
storage of flower seeds
7.Special care and continues attention.
CONSTRAINTS IN FLOWER SEED INDUSTRY
1.High cost and vogue market demand
2.Perishable nature of seed
3.Problems linked with contract farming.
4.Climate, pest and disease related problems
5.Stringent seed policies and laws- Quarantine procedures and
regulations
6.Poor infrastructure facilities and insufficient marketing and post
harvest losses
7.Labour problem is a burning issue
8.Varietal protection rights for breeders
9.Mechanisation and automisazation of various operations and
processes
10.Tough competition from other countries
11.Plug seedling production from garden centers has reduced the
flower seed demand.
Challenges
1.Product range- Annuals, Biennials and perennials
2.continues quest for new products/ novelties
3.Serving highly sophisticated customers
4.High seed germination requirement
5.Advances in seed technology- expertise in seed enhancement
technologies- priming/ pelleting for ease of handling
6.Need for biotechnology and transgenics to develop novelties by
using distant related species.
7.Single window Agency with control over all sectors is needed
to address flower seed industry problems from receiving stock
seeds till export.
 Future Needs
o Identification of export potential flower crops
o Identification of growing areas in different states
where climate is suitable to grow flower seeds
o Making trade friendly system for receiving of
stock seeds from other countries with priority as
in present system 45 days time is required to clear
consignment
o All declarations required by importing company
should be addressed by quarantine officers by
inspecting fields at appropriate time for pest and
diseases
o Special nodal officers should be earmarked at
central level to address flower seed growers day-
to -day problems to boost the production and
export of seeds.
o Focus on storage, transportation and orderly
marketing can help Indian flower seed industry on
organized lines.
o The goal must be for providing the consumers
with a variety of flower seeds of the best quality
under one roof.
Thank u