Agartala: Valentine’s Week is a time of celebration for couples, but for the rose farmers of Tripura, it is a period of struggle and disappointment.
Despite the high demand for roses, farmers from Laxmibill and Durga Nagar villages in the Bishalgarh subdivision of Sepahijala district find themselves unable to reap the benefits.
With around ten farmers engaged in rose cultivation, the local industry faces stiff competition from suppliers in Kolkata and Bangalore. The price disparity is stark—while roses from these cities sell for Rs 10 to 20 per piece in Tripura, locally grown roses fetch only Rs 5 to Rs 6 due to differences in quality.
Rupam Deb, a rose cultivator for the past four years, sheds light on the challenges faced by farmers. “The quality of the rose depends on the seedlings. If the seedling is not good, the rose won’t be good, and production will be low. Proper care and fertilizers play a key role in success,” he explains during an interview with Business North East (BNE).
Despite cultivating roses on approximately seven to eight ganda (0.158 Acres) of land, Deb says he fails to get a fair price. Natural calamities, such as floods, have also damaged a significant portion of his yield.
“We have received some government assistance, but the profit margin remains low. Our prices fluctuate based on the supply from Kolkata and Bangalore. If their supply declines, our rates drop further,” he laments.
The off-season poses another challenge, as business owners prefer sourcing roses from outside Tripura and placing bulk orders well in advance. “Our cultivation is limited, and we barely survive. We need the government to step in and boost rose farming,” Deb adds.
Amlan Majumder, another rose farmer who started cultivation in 2020, echoes similar concerns. “Apart from growing roses, I also sell seedlings. I have five ganda of land dedicated to rose farming, primarily of the Minipal variety. However, due to soil and climatic conditions, we cannot cultivate other varieties,” he further mentions.
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Majumder highlights the financial burden of high-cost fertilizers and medicines coupled with the low market price of their roses.
“Shop owners buy our roses for as little as Rs 3 per piece, while roses from Kolkata and Bangalore sell at a much higher price. It would be viable if we receive at least Rs 7 per rose. Right now, we are incurring losses, though the government has extended some support,” he says.
Speaking on the issue, Prabir Datta, an officer from Tripura’s Agriculture Department, acknowledged the farmers’ challenges. “Currently, about ten farmers are engaged in rose cultivation in the Bishalgarh subdivision, and no other region in Tripura has similar farming. However, since they practice open-field cultivation, they are unable to fetch competitive prices,” he explains.
He further adds that the market demand is for Dutch roses, while Tripura’s farmers are cultivating Minipal roses in open fields. “Dutch roses require a greenhouse or protected structures, which are yet to be introduced for rose farming in Tripura, though similar infrastructure has been established for other flowers. Advanced technology is necessary, and we are hopeful that the government will soon take necessary steps to address this issue,” Datta assures.
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