BANGALORE: Red roses of India have no global buyers at the moment. Their fragrance has been wiped out by competitors from countries like Kenya, Israel and Australia. The flower export has fallen by as much as 30 per cent over the past one year. Industry sources blame the September 11 attacks for this decline. As many as 40 rose growers quit the job last year after total losses came to about Rs 100 crore. 

          From the business point of view, the worst hit has been Bangalore, which accounts for 60 per cent of the total rose production. K Ramakrishna, managing director of Karturi High Tech Industry, said that the rose industry fell to many big players in the international market due to poor reliability and infrastructure factors.

           He explained: "The scenario for export has been bit of a problem. Reliability is the big factor in determining value in flower business. And over a period of time, because of various factors like poor logistics and bad infrastructure, European buyers treat India as an unreliable source of supply vis-a-vis their alternative source of Kenya and other African countries.

           Compared to reliability factors that Kenya can offer, India commands a poor price and not premium prices. "With the industry facing a lean period, the rose growers hope that domestic demand for flowers would help revive the market. In 2001, rose exports recorded 2100 tonnes and in 2002 it has been just around 1500 tonnes. Now the area of cultivation has come down to just 170 hectares from 200 hectares.