In Bloom

Byline: Ravi Kiran

Love may have been in the air on Valentine’s Day, but in Bangalore, it was also on cargo flights. A day after Cupid clocked out, Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) made headlines by shipping a staggering 6 crore rose stems, weighing over 2,700 tonnes, to 26 international destinations.

Add to that, deliveries to 47 domestic cities and you have a floral frenzy that puts the Garden City firmly on the global map. Operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the facility recorded a 38% year-on-year jump in stem volumes and a massive 64% surge in tonnage.

 

Global love, local roots

International shipments held steady at 305 metric tonnes, with Singapore topping the overseas chart, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, New York and Kuwait. This season also saw new destinations bloom, namely Los Angeles, London Gatwick, Dallas Fort Worth, Toronto and Orlando joined the rose route.

Back home, the real spike came from domestic demand. A whopping 2,402 MT of roses were transported within India; a 79% year-on-year rise in tonnage. Delhi and Kolkata continued to anchor demand, while Guwahati, Mumbai and Jaipur posted strong numbers. Notably, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Lucknow recorded over 150% growth compared to last season.

BIAL credits the surge to its expanded cargo infrastructure, including state-of-the-art cold chain facilities with real-time tracking and temperature precision, ensuring every petal lands fresh.

 

Weather woes, Bangalore boost

Unseasonal weather in Tamil Nadu delayed production by 10 days, but flower hubs around Bangalore, Nelamangala, Devanahalli and Hoskote, stepped in to steady supply. Even with adequate stocks, retail prices shot up in high-demand pockets like Indiranagar and Koramangala, where red roses sold at Rs 80–120 per stem, nearly tripling usual rates.

Wholesale, premium “Taj Mahal” red roses fetched Rs 30–35 per stem, while “Gold Strike” yellow and dark pink varieties traded at Rs 20–25. From polyhouses in Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli and Ramanagara, premium Dutch varieties and other roses are being harvested in large numbers.

 

The rose engine

The city’s love affair with roses is no fleeting Valentine’s fling; it is a full-blown industry in overdrive. During the peak season, Karnataka churns out between 10 and 15 lakh roses every single day. Add to that another 10 lakh flowers daily from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, and the region becomes a floral powerhouse. Of the total production, around 15% is exported, while the rest feeds a booming domestic market.

And what a season it has been. Traders say they haven’t witnessed such strong demand and steady pricing in years. Many are calling this the best run in a long time; a rare sweet spot where supply holds firm and demand keeps climbing.

But this rosy success story didn’t bloom overnight. Rose cultivation around Bangalore has deep roots, with open-field farming practised for decades. The real shift came in the mid-1990s, when greenhouse cultivation of hybrid Dutch varieties took hold. Backed by government support and initially powered by Israeli technology, growers slowly built home-grown innovations that transformed the sector.

Today, although greenhouses make up just 20–30% of the total cultivation area, they have overtaken open fields in production capacity and in quality. The roses are sturdier, more uniform and better suited for long-haul journeys.

Nature, too, plays its part. Bangalore’s elevation, over 800 metres above sea level, gives it a climatic edge. Even inside a greenhouse, temperature adjustments are limited to about 4–5 degrees Celsius, making the city’s naturally moderate weather a decisive advantage.

The result? A tech capital that doesn’t just export code but also colours, fragrance and millions of perfectly timed petals.

 

BOX-

From farm to flight

Growing Conditions

• Roses thrive in red loamy soil
• Ideal temperatures: 28–35°C (day), 20–25°C (night)
• Polyhouses yield 150–200 stems per sq.m per year
• Dutch hybrids preferred for longer vase life

Harvesting

• Hand-picked at bud stage, early morning
• Graded by size and colour at farms

Post-harvest & export chain

Grading & Auction

• Sorted at International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB), Hebbal
• Handles up to 1 million stems per day at peak
• Average price: ₹15–20 per stem

Packaging

• Hydrated in water tubes
• Sleeved and boxed in temperature-controlled cartons
• Designed to maintain freshness for up to 15 days

Logistics

• Trucked to Kempegowda International Airport (30–45 minutes)
• Cold chain cargo maintained at 2–4°C
• Shipped to 26 international destinations and 47 domestic cities
• Over 2,700 tonnes moved during 2026 Valentine’s season
• 64% rise in tonnage year-on-year