Dry flowers — a potential money-spinning enterprise

Ambika Sharma 

Dry flowers have carved a special place for themselves in celebrations for their long-lasting value and a gamut of decorative options, as fresh flowers do not last long and wither away within a short span. 

Being eco-friendly and long lasting, dry flowers offer a contemporary alternative to fresh flowers and are also valued for their round-the-year availability. Flowers as well as their parts, including shoots, seeds, barks, etc. are dried and dyed using various techniques to give them the desired look.

This industry has received a major impetus for its high value, for they offer varied options for decorating interiors and living space. 

Dr Bharati Kashyap, Dr SR Dhiman and Dr YC Gupta, scientists at the department of floriculture and landscape architecture (DFLA), Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, have been toiling since years to popularise its cultivation in the agrarian community given its increasing contribution to the country’s economy. It can also play a key role in increasing the farm income due to its minimal losses. 

The university has established a floral crafts laboratory on its main campus at Nauni, where students and farmers are trained on various aspects of drying of flowers and preparing an array of products. Scientists are also equipping farmers in the latest know-how through regular training programmes. Dr Bharti Kashyap products such as pot-pourries, incense, fragrant candles, greeting cards, dry flower sticks, arrangements, bouquets, wall-pictures, floral designs, pomanders, floral wreath, paperweights, dolls, mirrors, handmade papers, hangers, soap cases and other gift items, which are in high demand today and fetch lucrative returns. 

“This business can be a source of income generation to the unemployed youth, women and even differently-abled individuals. This business is a potential money spinner for farmers, as Indians are famous for their creativity and craftsmanship and people can grow and collect material and prepare handicrafts and floral items in their pastime,” said VC Dr HC Sharma. 

Dry flower species 

Dry flower species such as helichrysum, helipterum, limonium, nigella, gypsophila, delphinium, amaranthus, papaver, carthamus and rosa are among top cultivated varieties in India. Apart from these, the valleys and mountains of India harbour a large number of native plants comprising cones, ferns and grasses, which are unique and have great potential of being utilised for dry flower production. Above all, the agricultural waste of crops such as maize, sesamum, pearl millet, sorghum, linseed and wheat among others can also be utilised for making dry flower products. “Although ‘dried flowers’ today is a lucrative industry, a little attention has been paid to it. Raw products from the wild such as cones are still being harvested through illegal means and sent to dry flower markets/ collection centres at very low rates, from where value-added products are sent or exported to bigger markets at very higher rates,” said Dr SR Dhiman. 

The department of floriculture and landscape architecture has also standardised the technology for dehydration and value-addition of a large number of cultivated crops and native flora. A laboratory for the demonstration of technology and value-added products has been established, which is acting as a role model for students, guests and farmers. Many NGOs, SHGs and farmers have evinced interest in adopting the technology. “A small cottage industry or an entrepreneurship can be started in the field of dried flowers with a minimum amount of Rs 10,000 only. Dried flower products fetch good returns in the market and a single person can earn anywhere between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000 per day. Since dried flowers do not require a very large area for cultivation, the venture can be initiated by farmers who have limited landholding. Dried flowers do not have the problem of storage, unlike fresh flowers, which are perishable commodities. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, government of India, has also identified dry flowers as a potential item for export, which adds to its value as a valued item of export,” said Dr YC Gupta. The country has exported 22,947.23 metric tonne (MT) of floriculture products worth Rs 460.75 crore globally in 2014-15. 

Countries importing dried flowers

Of the total floriculture exports, the lion’s share of Rs 329.3 crore comprise dry flowers. The US, UK, Germany, Netherlands and the UAE are major countries, where the Indian dry flower products were exported during the same period. 

India 5th largest exporter 

India is the fifth largest exporter of these flowers and second largest exporter of dry foliage in the world and the industry exports 500 varieties of flowers to 20 countries. It is also one of the major exporters of dry flowers, comprising 7% of the global trade. West Bengal accounts for around 70% of the dry flower export from India. The easy and wide availability of raw materials from forests and manpower for labour, intensive craft making have helped this industry to flourish. 

Why a money churner

• A small cottage industry or an entrepreneurship can be started in a field of dry flowers with a minimum amount of Rs 10,000
• The dry flower products fetch good returns in the market and a single person can earn between Rs 200 and Rs 1,000 per day. 
• Since dried flowers do not require a very large area for cultivation, the venture can be initiated by farmers, who have limited landholding 
• Dried flowers do not have the problem of storage, unlike fresh flowers, which are perishable commodities