Imported flowers take bloom off local industry<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The sky is still dark, the sun has not come up yet, but the
\nRawabelong flower market in West Jakarta is already bustling with
\nactivity.<\/p>\n
Thousands of different varieties of cut flowers are sent to
\nthe market each day, some in refrigerated containers, others on
\nthe backs of motorcycles, in pick-up trucks and minivans.<\/p>\n
The market itself is small, with less than 100 traders, but
\nthere is no end to the flowers that come in from all over
\nIndonesia. Although small in size, the Rawabelong flower market
\nis considered one of the biggest centers of the flower trade in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Most of the flowers come from Cipanas, Sukabumi and Bogor in
\nWest Java, including gladiola, chrysanthemums, asters and
\norchids. But others come from farther away, such as tuberoses and
\njasmine from Ambarawa, Central Java, and roses from Malang, East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
\"Flowers come in starting very early in the morning, sometimes
\nat two or three in the morning,\" a trader said, adding that the
\nflowers were harvested from nurseries in the late afternoon of
\nthe previous day.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is home to more than 35,000 species of flowers, and
\nhas just about the most complete collection of orchids in the
\nworld. However, despite all this, Indonesia's flower industry has
\nyet to bloom in full.<\/p>\n
For instance, according to the Indonesian Flower Association
\n(Asbindo) there were only 3,638 hectares of land under
\ncultivation for cut flowers in Indonesia in 2000, compared to
\n7,000 hectares in Thailand in 1995 and 34,000 hectares of land in
\nIndia the same year.<\/p>\n
Exports of cut flowers from Indonesia only amounted to
\nUS$6,659 in 2000, while in 1995 Thailand exported more than $80
\nmillion worth of cut flowers, or 2.1 percent of the world's
\nexports of $3.72 billion.<\/p>\n
Japan is Asia's main market for cut flowers, but instead of
\nexporting directly to this country, Indonesia's cut flowers are
\nexported to Singapore which then re-exports them after hiking
\nprices by more than 100 percent, according to the association.<\/p>\n
Many factors contribute to the problems faced by the industry.
\nAccording to an analysis by the central bank on the Indonesian
\ncut flower industry, Indonesia's reliance on imported seeds was
\none of the main problems, explaining that this adds to the cost
\nof production by about 30 percent to 35 percent.<\/p>\n
Transportation is another hurdle in the industry, with
\nairlines preferring to carry more lucrative and durable goods
\nthan flowers.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the analysis showed that Indonesian
\nhorticulturalists preferred to grow leafy plants, which are in
\ndemand locally, rather than the more export-oriented flowering
\nplants.<\/p>\n
\"International demand for floriculture is composed of 55
\npercent flowers, 5 percent orchids and the rest leafy plants;
\nwhile in Indonesia it is 60 percent for leafy plants, 25 percent
\norchids and 15 percent cut flowers,\" the report said.<\/p>\n
In addition, the practice of buying flowers for one's own
\npersonal use is virtually unknown in Indonesia, leaving the
\npurchase of cut flowers for special occasions such as birthdays,
\nweddings and funerals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imported-flowers-take-bloom-off-local-industry-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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