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BANGALORE, Dec. 24

CONSIDERED the rose capital of India, Bangalore has started feeling the pricking of thorny competition in the international market with countries such as Kenya, Australia and Israel posing a serious threat to India's position as exporter of cut flowers.

Bangalore, which used to contribute 60 per cent of the production is facing the heat of the competition.

According to a former President of South Indian Floriculturists Association Mr K. Ramakrishna, the rose industry was losing to many big players in the international market affecting 30 per cent of rose exports.

The industry was able to withstand the setback with support from the domestic market.

But now, even in the domestic arena it is facing competition from growers from Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai.

The Indian red roses are finding it difficult to sustain its importance in the international market leaving the cut flower industry in a lurch.

Once a booming industry in India, cutflower business is facing a crunch because other countries like Kenya have strengthened their hold in the international rose market.

The more than Rs 100 crore industry was still feeling the pangs of the 9/11 syndrome, said a grower.

According to industry sources the rose exports from India in 2001 was 2,100 tonnes and this year it was just around 1,500 tonnes.

The fall in exports has hit several growers hard, forcing many to suspend their business.

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