Rose farming is the practice of cultivating rose plants on a commercial scale for flowers, essential oils, or landscaping purposes. Roses are one of the most popular and widely cultivated flowers globally due to their beauty, fragrance, and commercial value.
They are used extensively for:
- Flower bouquets
- Decorations for weddings and events
- Perfume and essential oil extraction
- Cosmetic and skincare products
Advantages of Rose Farming
- High-profit crops if managed well
Roses are really popular flowers and hence are highly profitable, as demand is high and supply is not adequate. Growing roses is difficult and needs proper knowledge, experience, skill, climate, etc. Hence, the prices of roses are high. If rose farming is managed properly, then you will get good profit. - Can be grown in open fields, polyhouses, or greenhouses
Roses can be grown easily in polyhouses and greenhouses. If you are somebody who has knowledge and resources for polyhouses or greenhouses, then you can surely do rose farming. - Roses have both local and export market demand
As roses are beautiful flowers and are used in the cosmetic industry, fragrances, etc., they are quite popular among the crowd. Hence, they are popular locally and also are available for export.
Disadvantages of Rose Farming
- High Initial Investment
The cost of quality saplings, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and infrastructure (like greenhouses) is expensive.
Drip irrigation, pest control, and farm maintenance require regular spending. Example: Initial setup cost can range from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh per acre depending on farming methods. - Pest & Disease Problems
Roses are highly sensitive to:
Aphids, Thrips, Red Spider Mites (Insects)
Fungal diseases like Powdery Mildew, Black Spot, and Root Rot
Virus attacks
Regular pest management is required, which increases cost and workload. - Labour Intensive Crop
Roses need daily care like pruning, irrigation, spraying, and harvesting.
Skilled labour is required to handle plants without damaging them.
Labour shortage can be a big issue during harvesting seasons. - Perishable Product
Roses have a very short shelf life after harvesting (especially cut flowers).
Delayed marketing or transport can lead to loss of quality and price drop. Requires cold storage or quick transportation to markets. - Market Fluctuation & Price Variation
The price of roses depends on market demand, festivals, and seasons.
Prices may drop heavily after peak seasons like Valentine’s Day, weddings, or festivals.
Farmers may suffer losses if supply exceeds demand. - Climate Dependency
Roses need favourable climatic conditions for healthy growth.
Heavy rains, drought, extreme heat, or frost can damage plants and reduce yields.
Selection of Location
As in rose farming or any other farming, location plays a big role in growing the plant. For rose farming, the following are the favorable conditions:
- Temperature
The temperature for rose farming needs to be from 15–28°C. - Soil Type
The soil is the base of farming, and it needs to be loamy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6–7. - Rainfall
The rainfall should be moderate with proper drainage. Heavy rainfall can create fungus or other diseases for the plant.
States where rose farming is done are the following
- Karnataka
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- West Bengal
- Uttar Pradesh
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand
Conclusion
Rose farming is a profitable business only when done properly, or else you might face heavy losses. With the growing demand for organic flowers and rose products in the cosmetic industry, rose farming is gaining popularity among farmers.
