A rosy affair

Aurangabads Marathwada University shows how to grow roses in a hostile climate and earn money from it too.

The Dr Bababsaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University BAMU in Aurangabad has done what seemed nearly impossible till a few years ago. Using modern technology,it has not only successfully cultivated roses in an environment considered hostile to the flower but is also generating revenue from the endevour. The project that has won the university,which does not buy flowers from outside,the state governments Best Rose Award for two consecutive years.

The project generated a revenue of Rs 60,000 in 2009 and Rs 90,000 in 2010. The department expects to double the income in the current year.

Aurangabad and almost all the entire Marathwada region comprising eight districts is hemmed in by hills that results in a moderate climate throughout the year. The temperature in Aurangabad ranges from 10 to 42 degree Celsius. For roses,30-36 degrees is the ideal temperature. The varying climate was a hurdle for rose farming in the region.

In August 2008,the BAMU approved a high-tech floriculture project,under which the university started growing around 5,000 plants in a poly-house set up on barren land,Kishore Nirmal,a renowned horticulturist who headed the project,said.

The project to commercially grow roses on wasteland was the brainchild of chairman of campus development project Dr Sudhir Gavhane. After the project was approved,the varsitys garden superintendent Dr Govind Humbe and Kishore Nirmal outlined a plan that required an initial investment of Rs 5 lakh.

All imported and popular varieties of roses that included the red Bordeaux from England,the yellow Gold Strike and Starlight from France,saffron coloured Tropical Amazona from the UK and the pink Noblesse variety from France were cultivated. We bought them from nurseries from across the state,mostly from Pune, said Dr Manvendra Kachole,registrar,BAMU. The project took shape in a 25 metre by 20 metre polyhouse,which is 8 metre in height. The aerodynamic poly-house helped control temperature,humidity and moisture. The galvanised structure,that helps natural ventilation inside,has an age of about 30 years.

Dr Gavhane said the water requirement was taken care of by raising the water level of around 40 old wells on the campus and constructing canals. Drip irrigation system and foggers were put in place to avoid water losses. The combined efforts paid off and the BAMU delivered high-end varieties of roses.

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The university gets 500 flowers every day. Some of it is used to meet the campus requirements and the rest is sold in the open market. BAMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Vijay Pandharipande said,Every other day,some event is held. We have decided not to purchase a single flower from outside.