Business Today has an article on how the recession in the West is taking a toll on the Indian floriculture industry. But for the Indian floriculture exporters, the party was over—at least for this year. This is because roses account for 99 per cent of total Indian flower exports, which, according to Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency (APEDA), aggregated to Rs 340.14 crore ($84.49 million) in 2007-08. “Traders held back the orders due to uncertainty. One of the leading traders, who normally buys six million roses for Valentine’s Day, had firmed up orders for just one million by February 6,” says Ramakrishna Karuturi, Managing Director, Karuturi Global, one of the largest players in the industry, with a presence in both India and Africa. Adds Anne Ramesh, Chairman, Suvarna Florex, and a veteran in the industry: “Every year, we used to get firm orders for 70 per cent of the export quantity by February 1. This year, even as late as February 9, we had orders ...