• As millions of naira lost to rose cultivation, export

Yearly, Nigeria has the potential of earning millions of naira as foreign exchange from the sales of flowers in commemoration of the St. Valentine’s Day celebrated every February 14.

In time past, ahead of the Valentine’s Day, investigations then showed an estimated one million roses were exported from Nigeria to other countries by every February 10, with millions of naira accruing to farmers and exporters.

But that is no more today, as the country now relies solely on importation of the commodity from Kenya, Ethiopia and other countries, losing several millions in foreign exchange.

According to experts, the cultivation and export of roses hold the potential of sustainable income not only for the country but for the farmers and exporters, due to the ready-made market for the produce.

The Guardian’s market survey showed that supermarkets and flower dealers are currently making brisk income as the day draws near, unfortunately a large chunk of the produce, running into several millions of naira are sourced from other countries.

It was gathered that despite the potential of Africa in the cultivation of roses, accounting for 85 per cent of roses sold in Netherlands, Nigeria has lost its place, as only Kenya and Ethiopia are the main suppliers.

According to reports, Africa accounts for the bulk of roses exported to the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Netherlands and others.

Kenya is one of the world’s biggest exporters of roses. The country, adjudged the fourth largest exporter of cut flowers in the world, accounts for more than half of all roses, according to reports.

Though horticulturists say Kenya’s success, which positioned it as the number one rose-growing country on the continent, is linked to the country’s favourable weather conditions, vast arable land, low labourer wages, and good infrastructural facilities, among others, but industry players argued that Nigeria also possessed the qualities and is capable of making roses cultivation a money-spinning venture.

The Team Lead for Eupepsia Place Limited, Farmer Samson Ogbole, attributed Nigeria’s challenge of relying solely on imported roses to dearth of breeders and lack of enlightenment on the cultivation of the produce.

“Firstly, we are relying on roses importation to fill the demand gap because we don’t have enough breeders here. Secondly, most of our farmers do not know they can grow roses in the country, those are the basic things,” he said.

Contrary to insinuations that cultivation of the produce is limited to some areas in the country, Ogbole confirmed that roses can be cultivated in any part of the country, noting that “the issue is that we don’t have breeders – the people that provide the kind of seeds that you need.

“Though I don’t have any figure now on the amount the country is losing yearly, but I’ll say whatever we spend on importing roses is what we are losing. I cannot say this is the exact amount.”

On her part, a horticulturist based in Lagos, Mrs. Ireti Ogunlesi, identifies lack of support – finance and conducive environment, unavailability of land, pollution, epileptic power supply and thirst for foreign products by Nigerians, as major challenges killing the industry.

In a recent interview, she said: “If we are serious, this is a billion dollars industry; we have to set aside proper investment. The revenue Holland is making from Nigeria is huge, not just on roses but from other types of flowers they are importing into the country.

“I know of some of the roadside horticulturists that have built houses, is that not a serious business? They pay their house rents; they sponsor their children to school and they are living well. I am in dire need of gardeners now, but there are none because there’s no vocation or training for gardeners, because people don’t take it seriously. To generate income from the industry, we need to take it seriously as a business.”

She emphasised the need for support from the private sector, government and corporate organisations. “The problem is largely lack of support; there is nobody to support the rose cultivation industry. For instance, I live in Lagos, if I am going to grow the roses, where am I going to get the land as all the land in Lagos are set up for buildings.”