Flora expo offers more than flowers

Flora expo offers more than flowers

JAKARTA (JP): Everyone knows about the expression "small is
beautiful", but how about "small is beautiful and expensive?"

Small, beautiful and expensive potted bonsai plants are among
those on display at the International Flora Show, at the Jakarta
Convention Center.

In one stand, a lemon tree is sold for Rp 75,000, while
another participant has put a Rp 250,000 price tag on a potted
lemon tree. There are also banyan trees, kamboja (Plumiera
acuminata) and money-tree (Pachira aquita), planted in pots; each
cost at least Rp 200,000. Mini potted plants, like cactus and
hyacinths, are available at lower prices.

"It smells great, and it's imported from Holland," said an
attendant, pointing to a 20-cm hyacinth.

Potted plants are only a small part of the show, opened by
Vice President Try Sutrisno Friday and on until Tuesday. There
are many more things to do and see than just buying plants and
flowers.

Workshops on flower arrangement, a flower arrangement contest,
a floriculture expo and bourse, international seminars on the
floriculture industry and fashion shows are among the activities
planned. Tomorrow, a Dutch expert on flower arrangement, Peeter
Boey Pens, will demonstrate his skills and on closing day a
floral bazaar and auction will be held.

The five-day event is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and tickets
cost Rp 2,500. Around 15,000 visitors are expected.

Over 60 companies are participating in the show, including
several from the Netherlands and Japan.

The flower industry is constantly growing and expanding in
developed countries. In Europe, America and East Asia, the
floriculture business is a highly competitive industry. In the
last two decades, some developing countries, like South America
and South Africa have established a floriculture industry to meet
both the domestic and international market.

The horticultural subsector in Indonesia grows at a rate of
just 2.5 percent a year, according to the show organizers, the
Indonesian Flower Association. This is relatively small compared
to the average 6.8 percent growth of the Indonesian economy in
the past two decades.

Since 1985, the floricultural component of the horticultural
subsector has shown rapid growth with a rate of between 15 and 20
percent per year.

Darmanto Kusumaningrat, chairman of the Central Board of the
Cooperatives of Indonesian Flowers, said farmers could not fully
develop their business as they lacked of capital, the marketing
strategy was weak and they had not mastered adequate breeding and
seedling techniques.

"As a result, it's hard to produce flowers of high quality and
wide variety and which can last," he said.

Darmanto said most farmers were stuck with "old products" like
sedap malam (tuberose), marguerite, aster and gladiola, instead
of the new products in high demand, such as chrysanthemum,
carnation, antorium, gipsophila, caspea and lily.

The Cooperatives' branches are located in Cihideung, Sukabumi,
Cipanas, Semarang and Ambarawa, with about 2,000 members. (sim)