Career Option in Floriculture

Floriculture is a part of horticulture, with specialisation in flower farming. It includes the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for the floral industry or floristry.Sold typically for gardens and landscaping, floriculture crops include bedding plants, flowering plants, foliage plants or houseplants, cut greens, and cut flowers. They are grown in cell packs (in flats or trays), in pots, or in hanging baskets, usually inside a controlled environment.

The major flowering plants are poinsettias, orchids, chrysanthemums, roses, gerberas, carnations, anthurium. Foliage plants are also sold in pots and hanging baskets for indoor and patio use, including larger specimens for office, hotel, and restaurant interiors.

Education Details & Eligibility:

For entry-level positions, no formal education is required. However a bachelor degree is needed for other levels. For Floriculture diploma course through distance education, candidates should have passed class 10. 10+2 with botany as an option to study for floriculture. To get admitted into an agricultural university offering degree in Floriculture/Horticulture, one has to pass an entrance examination conducted by them.

Course Duration:

• Certificate Courses (few months or 1 Year)
• Diploma CoursesDiploma Courses (2 Years)
• Graduate Level (3 or 4 Years)
• post-graduate and Doctoral Level (2 Years)

Approximate Education Expenses:

In India the expenses are:

• B.Sc-Rs.20000/ per year- (approx) - (3 Years)
• Diploma Courses- Rs.15000/ per Year- (approx) - (2 Years)

Additional Courses:

Apart from regular courses, many certification courses are available. They need a few months of training.

Certificate Course In Floriculture:

Eligibility: Any degree
Program Fee: Rs.2500/-
Duration: 6 months.
General Course In Floriculture:
Eligibility: Non Graduates
Program Fee: Rs.1500/-
Duration: 6 weeks

Almost all the agriculture university offer courses in floriculture. For details on colleges offering these courses please visit www.StudyGuideIndia.com.

Floriculturists are in demand across the globe. - Countries like Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Japan import flowers from exporters such as Columbia, Israel, Spain and Kenya. Due to the expansion of the global markets since the 1990s, the demand for flowers has been on the rise. The Dubai Flower Centre, the first phase of which is expected to be ready by 2010, will change the entire dynamics of the floriculture export business. Currently, Indian flowers must necessarily go all the way to auction houses in Amsterdam (Holland), before subsequent redistribution to other parts of the globe.

Facts from Economic Research Service:

Floriculture and horticulture industries are increasing by more than Rs 2000 crores annually in grower cash receipts.
According to the most recent statistics, the average nursery or greenhouse operator can expect an annual return of Rs 24 Lakhs - more than from any other commodity.
Environmental horticulture ranks among the top five agricultural commodities in 28 states. It offers communities a chance for rural development and gives farmers a way to diversify their crops for enhanced profits.

Freshers job roles could be:

As supervisors with floriculture companies.
Managerial or marketing positions with flower processing and marketing establishments.
As farm or estate managers whose job responsibilities include production of certain varieties of flowers placed on the high demand scale.
As specialists with the departments of horticulture and municipal corporations. They are employed by the government to look after the improvised plantation, nursery and landscaping projects run by the former.

Job opportunities are also available with public sector undertakings and government hospitals, etc. that strive in maintaining a clean and green surroundings

For professionally trained Floriculturists working in private companies or public sector enterprises (PSEs), the starting salary can be between Rs.6,000 and Rs.8,000. For those taking up managerial positions or marketing positions in Floriculture companies, the salary can range between Rs.12,000 and Rs.20,000 or even higher. Those conducting research works on flowers can command a reasonable price as consultation fee. However, if you become entrepreneur and serve the domestic or overseas market as a supplier of flowers, there can be no limit to your income.