New Delhi: On 8th July 2021, a consignment consisting of traditional flowers such as button rose, lily, chamanthi, Marigold, and Madurai malli certified by Geographical Indications (GI) were exported to the USA and Dubai from Tamil Nadu to ensure the flower supplies to the Indians staying overseas.

With the export of traditional flowers at regular intervals, the Indian community in Dubai and the USA would be able to offer fresh flowers to Hindu deities both at home and in temples while celebrating religious and cultural festivals.

Jasmine flowers and other bouquets were valued at Rs 66.28 crores last year and exported to countries like the USA, UAE, Singapore, etc, and value worth Rs.11.84 crores was exported from the Tamil Nadu region through major airports of Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.

The flowers for the consignments are sourced from Nilakottai, Dindigul, and Sathya Mangalam, Tamil Nadu by APEDA registered M/s. Vanguard Exports, Coimbatore.

The exporters of consignments 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. Direct contacts with the farmers to cultivate quality flowers were undertaken by the exporters and the initiative generated employment to about 130 women workers and about 30 skilled workers.

Madurai has emerged as a major market for the malli gai grown in its neighbourhood and has evolved into the ‘jasmine capital’ of India, with its most splendid scent.