Horticulture deals with cultivation of garden crops, fruits and vegetables, while Floriculture focuses on cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants. India, being a land bestowed with favourable climate for agriculture, is conducive towards cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables and crops throughout the year. Hence, agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for ~58% India’s population, contributing ~17% to the Gross Value Added (GVA), as of 2019.

Floriculture is an age-old occupation in India; however, it was after economic liberalisation that the Indian Government identified floriculture as a sunrise industry, rendering it 100% export-oriented status. Flowers such as rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, gerbera, gladiolus, orchids, anthurium, tulip and lilies account for the major share of exports.

Flowers are widely used for religious purposes, decorations, gifting, medicines and extraction of perfumes and oils. While exports and religious festivals are key growth drivers for floriculture, demand for flowers is also increasing from metro cities owing to rising westernisation trends. Apart from decorative and gifting purposes, flowers are also used in industrial applications to manufacture flavours, fragrances, natural colours, medicines and Ayurveda.

According to the data released by Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MOSPI), the Indian horticulture market, consisting of fruits and vegetables, had an output worth Rs. 3,569 billion (US$ 48.47 billion) in 2019-20 and increased at a CAGR of 3.55% between 2011-12 to 2019-20, while the floriculture market had an output worth Rs. 273.5 billion (US$ 3.71 billion) in 2019-20 and rose at a CAGR of 5.84% during the same period.