18 August
RECENTLY I happened to watch on MNTV, a program about “growing” Lily flowers on a commercial scale by a film academy award winning actor. I was very pleased with the program because I had all along advocated, higher investments in the “Green Investment Opportunities” of Horticulture (which includes Floriculture) together with Agriculture, and Aquaculture, to further enhance these Sectors’ contribution to the economic development of Myanmar.
For the information of the public, Floriculture is that area of Horticulture relating to cultivation and marketing of flowers and foliage (Ywet Hla). It is said to provide the highest return per unit area compared to cultivation of other crops. As to the potential of Floriculture, Myanmar is a country that covets natural flowers of all species including lilies, roses, chrysanthemums, all varieties of orchids, and other numerous species of flowers. Both the young and the old love to see flowers, either growing wild on the land or on trees in the forest or in a public park or in a garden.
For Myanmar people, majority of who are of the Buddhist religion, flowers are for offering to the Buddha on the alters of their homes, at the pagodas and for all religious and social occasions- including for weddings, birthdays, bringing solace to the sick and ailing and of course to honour those departed.
Flowers are also used in abundance for decorative purposes at conferences, seminars and numerous other social and religious events. They are used in many shopping malls and commercial centres to add “life” and “colour” to the advertisements of products or services. Small pots of flowers are used for decorating offices and apartments. Hence, the local demand for flowers will always be high and keep on increasing. At present though, some local demands for any particular type of decorative flowers are being met through imports. The next step is to develop a flourishing floriculture industry with the aim of meeting varied local demands as well as for “exporting” the flowers.
Myanmar, has vast areas of land and water resources, lush green forests with all varieties of flora and fauna, including a wide variety of exotic orchids growing wild in the forests. Such “natural” resources, if gainfully harnessed will enable reaping harvests of un imaginable proportions. It is possible if some imaginative entrepreneur, like the person mentioned above (and others like him) put their heart to it. Floriculture being largely a labour intensive industry; will provide employment for many young persons in the regions or areas where it is undertaken.
However if “flowers” are to be “exported” they will have to be grown according to “international safety requirements” and “markets” have to be sought for export. Perhaps the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Horticulture Association could help our “entrepreneurs” to search for stable “markets” abroad.
Our big neighbouring country on the West has a huge Floriculture industry. Perhaps their Floriculture entrepreneurs could be invited to give technical advice and some perhaps to jointly invest with local investors for further sustainable development of the floriculture industry in Myanmar.
By Lokethar
