To ensure that Indians living abroad get supplies of fresh flowers to deities at temples and home, consignments of Geographical Indications (GI) certified Madurai malli along with few other traditional flowers like lily, chamanthi, marigold and button rose were exported to the US and Dubai from Tamil Nadu on 8th July 2021.
The fresh flowers were sourced from Dindigul, Nilakottai and Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu by APEDA registered M/s.Vanguard Exports in Coimbatore.
The exporters of consignments were supported by professors of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University’s (TNAU) floriculture department in adoption of packaging technology to increase the shelf life of flowers.
Direct contacts with the growers to cultivate quality flowers were undertaken by the exporters. Moreover the initiative provided employment to around 130 women workers & about 30 skilled workers.
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Indian community living in US and Dubai will now be able to offer fresh flowers to the deities at temples & home while celebrating religious as well as cultural festivals after the exports of flowers from India.
In 2020-2021, fresh cut flowers - comprising of jasmine and other traditional flowers valued at Rs 66.28 cr were exported to the UAE, US, Singapore, etc. Out of which, value of Rs.11.84 cr were exported from Tamil Nadu.
Let me tell you that Madurai is India's Jasmine city, where the popular, sweet scented 'malligai' has been grown and used in the temple city for decades.
