Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistan’s floriculture sector is finding room to grow in a changing climate, with nurseries and exporters eyeing a rising demand from the Gulf markets, though challenges in supply chains, post-harvest handling, and quality standards remain.

“There are four main segments of floriculture in Pakistan: potted plants, cut flowers, dried petals, and cut foliage,” Dr. Naveed Ahmed of the Horticulture Department of Faisalabad Agriculture University told Wealth Pakistan. He said, “Pakistan is well-established in potted plants, exporting almost 2,000 containers each year, mostly from Patoki, a city in Punjab.”

According to the World Trade Integrated Solution, Pakistan exports horticulture products to Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Tunisia, Jordan, Japan, the UAE, South Korea, Libya, China, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia’s planned mega-city, NEOM, is fueling fresh demand for a diverse array of flora—including roses, jasmine, fruit-bearing trees, and desert-tolerant plants.

Cut flowers, by contrast, remain limited to the domestic markets due to hurdles in air freight space, quarantine, and quality preparation, Dr. Naveed said. “The local demand is met efficiently, and flower imports have decreased; if the supply chains strengthen, cut flower exports may become viable,” he said.

Pakistan also holds a unique position in dried flowers, with roses from Punjab and Sindh provinces exported to Japan and Europe for use in herbal cosmetics. These are often exported in raw form, but their value addition, such as producing hydrosol, could generate better revenue.

Cut foliage, the fourth segment of floriculture, serves both domestic and export markets as an essential component in bouquets. The farmers can earn revenue by cultivating plant branches, which are in steady demand locally and abroad. Dr Naveed said cut foliage is often easier to export than cut flowers, offering growers a lucrative opportunity.

Despite successes, floriculture faces constraints. High shipment costs, lack of local soil-less substrates, and poor post-harvest practices limit the potential, he said. Farmers often rely on potato cold storage, though dedicated floral facilities are needed. “Post-harvest losses are very high. We train farmers, but adoption remains low,” Dr. Naveed said.

Still, profits are attractive compared with traditional crops. Pakistan hosts about 5,000 nurseries nationwide, catering to local buyers and exports. Turf grass cultivation is emerging in Alipur, where around 3,000 acres are under production, though small-scale farmers have yet to tap international opportunities, he observed.

Climate change has had a mixed impact on Pakistan’s floriculture. While most of the sector remains resilient, summer flowers have been shifted from Punjab to cooler areas in Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Yield dips in July and August, and winter crops are sown later to avoid heat stress, Dr. Naveed said.

The global floriculture industry is dominated by the Netherlands, which accounts for about 60% of global trade through its digital flower market and corporate farming ventures in Africa and Latin America. Pakistan’s role remains small but growing. According to Naveed, Pakistan’s sector requires support in seed imports, subsidies for farmers, and better post-harvest facilities.

“Farmers need training in seed production and hybrid varieties. A subsidy project can help them increase output,” he said. For Pakistan, strengthening nurseries, investing in value addition, and connecting growers to international contracts are key steps to sustain growth. Diversification in horticulture is also needed.

“If we facilitate the development of nurseries and secure export contracts, Patoki alone can supply plants in significant volumes,” Dr Naveed said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk