Abstract
Floriculture industry is considered a high income generating agribusiness and it can potentially be harnessed as a means of socioeconomic development in Sri Lanka. Limited literature and lack of data are the main barriers to develop policies in this sector. The business is handled by a few exporters, middle level growers and small scale growers. The National Policy Framework, of the Government of Sri Lanka (2010) aimed to develop the floriculture sector as a source of income generating pathway to unemployed women in the country. The observation and analysis presented on this paper is based on a survey conducted during April – August 2014 in Colombo and Gampaha Districts of Sri Lanka and views of growers obtained in the workshop on “ Setting new horizons in horticulture 2020” held on 30th January 2015 in Colombo. Data were collected for qualitative analysis through direct questions and open ended questions. The findings of this study acknowledge that the collective actions of growers drive the development of floriculture in the country. Indirectly growers highlighted that increase in the utilization of flowers and indoor plants in the country; created a favorable demand for their products and therefore, growers need to expand their operations. The main constrains of the growers were financial difficulties, and high cost of land to expand their productions. Growers as well as the government need to develop a proper market for floriculture products at national and international levels in par with other export agricultural crops in the country.
Highlights
Sri Lanka is home to an enormous botanical diversity and has a wide range of floricultural species
Floriculture is a high income generating agribusiness and it can potentially be harnessed as a means of socioeconomic development in Sri Lanka
The other most important feature is that 79% of these growers had qualified GCE-A/L, assuring higher literacy level and the ability to understand new technologies. This is very important when they engaged in the export industry, since this market demands very high hygienic standards and high quality products within a short time period
Summary
Sri Lanka is home to an enormous botanical diversity and has a wide range of floricultural species. Floriculture is a high income generating agribusiness and it can potentially be harnessed as a means of socioeconomic development in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is planning to establish 1,500 floriculture villages and generate 30,000 jobs in sub urban and rural areas (National Policy Framework, 2010). Many supporting networks have been developed by government agencies and non-government organisations to provide training, planting materials and infrastructure facilities to empower women floriculture growers. Uses of flowers in the country are increasing with the development of higher living standard of Sri Lankans and flowers are used in many events of life such as for greetings, weddings and funerals as well as in religious functions, mainly of Buddhists and Hindu faith. Most perfumes used in the world are from oils of Jasmin and Roses, besides flowers plays a vital role in human life by improving the environment and as a symbol of sentiments (Zeb et al, 2007)
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