In order to ensure that Indians living abroad get supplies of fresh flowers for their prayer ceremonies at home and in temples, consignments of Geographical Indications (GI) certified Madurai malli and other traditional flowers such as button rose, lily, chamanthi and marigold were exported on Thursday to USA and Dubai from Tamil Nadu, the Commerce Ministry said.
The flowers for the consignments were sourced from Nilakottai, Dindigul and Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu by M/s.Vanguard Exports, Coimbatore which is registered with APEDA, the commerce ministry’s export promotion organisation.
The exporters were supported by professors from the floriculture department of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore in the adoption of packaging technology to increase the shelf life of the flowers. The exporters in turn established direct contacts with the farmers to cultivate quality flowers.
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Efforts are on to ensure regular supplies of fresh flowers to the Indian diaspora in Dubai and USA for their prayers and for celebrating religious and cultural festivals, the commerce ministry said
India exported fresh cut flowers, jasmine flowers and bouquets valued at Rs 66.28 crores to countries like USA, UAE and Singapore during 2020-2021. Exports from Tamil Nadu through major airports of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai accounted for Rs.11.84 crore of this total.
Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) is one of the most popular flowers found across the world. The scent of Jasmine is synonymous with the splendour of Madurai’s Meenakshi temple. Madurai has emerged as a major market for the malligai grown in its neighbourhood, and has evolved into the ‘jasmine capital’ of India.
