Shimla, February 12 As Valentine's Day approaches and the wedding season begins, flower prices in Shimla markets are soaring, with particularly high demand for red roses, which are selling for Rs 100 each.
During the off-season, the price of red roses usually ranges from Rs 20 to Rs 50 per stem.
"Currently, red roses are being sold for Rs 100 per stem. However, there is still a strong demand for red roses, whether loose, in bunches, or in elaborate bouquets," Amit Sood, owner of Universal Traders, a Shimla-based florist, told
Sood expressed hope that prices could further increase due to the high demand for Valentine's Day.
Business is booming, not only in anticipation of occasions of love but also due to the festive season, with Shivratri and Holi approaching.
A single rose stem sells for Rs 80 to Rs 120, while carnations start at Rs 50 per stem, sunflowers at Rs 250 per stem, and lilies and tulips can fetch up to Rs 4,000 per bundle, Harsh said.
The flower industry in Himachal Pradesh is worth Rs 100 crore, with many locally grown flowers being exported to other parts of India and worldwide.
However, roses are grown in limited quantities, and due to the escalating demand for this quintessential flower of love, red roses are being imported from other parts of the country.
"A bunch of 20 carnations is fetching Rs 400 to Rs 500 for growers selling their produce in Delhi," said Rama Thakur, a grower.
Carnations, chrysanthemums, gladiolus, lilies, and alstroemeria are extensively grown in Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Mandi, Chamba, and Kangra districts during the winter.
Horticulture is practiced on 234 hectares in Himachal Pradesh, of which 124 hectares are dedicated to productive cultivation in polyhouses (greenhouses), and about 1,271 families are directly involved in flower cultivation, according to Director, Horticulture, Vinay Kumar.
Due to Valentine's Day and the wedding season, growers are getting good prices for their produce, he added.
