Man loves flowers as they beautify the environment. Horticulture is the science and art of growing plants such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and any other cultivar.
It also includes
– landscape restoration
– soil management
– garden design
– beautification of open spaces, gardens and parks ,
– arboriculture.
Horticulture is not large scale crop production and/or animal husbandry.
Horticulturists usually have a personal passion for flower cultivation. they apply their knowledge, skills and technologies to intensively grow flowers which are non-food for social purposes.
Most horticultural businesses originate from the passion of an individual until it becomes big business. Their work involves plant propagation and cultivation with the aim of improving plant growth, yields, quality, nutritional value, and resistance to insects, diseases, and environmental stresses.
They work as gardeners, growers, therapists, designers, and technical advisors in the food and non-food sectors of horticulture. Horticulturists develop gardens where people can go and sit down and enjoy the ambience. Some people love garden parties where there are plenty of natural flowers.
In some countries in East and South Africa especially Kenya, flowers are exported daily to Europe. Foreign exchange earnings from flower exports form a major ratio of Kenya’s foreign earnings. Consequently, the value of horticulture production rose 41 per cent in 2016 & 2017. Market data from the Horticulture Department in Kenya indicated that overall sales rose from Sh216 billion in 2016 to Sh305 billion in 2017.
The marked increase in exports was attributed to compliance with the export market requirements by majority exporters especially to the European Union.
In 2016 the value of flowers, fruits and vegetables increased by 13, 12 and 12 per cent respectively as compared to 2015.
In order to diversify our foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria, the development of flowers and their export is another viable option.
We are featuring Zephyr Gardens and Landscape (ZGL) – the above flower arrangement is from ZGL
Source: Wikipedia; Horticulture Business in Kenya…
