NEW DELHI: India's share in global floriculture trade may not be significant but the country has, of late, shown enough potential to eventually turn itself as a favourite destination of flower importers in near future.Surprisingly, the small land-holding pattern, considered a handicap for the country's agricultural production, comes as an advantage in floriculture due to its 'low volume high value' character. Since the sector has huge export potential, a number of small and marginal farmers have started turning towards flower production.Increasing domestic demand for both cut and loose flowers has also attracted farmers, mainly in leading flower producing states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, towards floriculture.The northeastern states, especially Mizoram, have also turned towards cultivating flowers of export varieties in a big way.Though the country had during 2014-15 exported floriculture products worth over Rs 460 crore, its overall share is quite low in the global trade of nearly USD 40 billion or nearly Rs 2,72,000 crore."There is a great demand for Indian flowers in Gulf countries. Besides the major cut flowers, the export of traditional flowers such as jasmine and marigold is also gaining momentum in recent times," said A K Singh, managing director of the agriculture ministry's National Horticulture Board (NHB).Explaining how floriculture in the country moved from "dormancy to infancy", backed by growing domestic demand and policy support from the government, Singh said, "The country is bestowed with ideal temperature conditions for commercial floriculture throughout the year in some or other part. This has helped entrepreneurs and growers in recognising diversification into floriculture as of a commercial value."Floriculture in India is viewed as a high growth industry and the government has already identified this sector as a sunrise industry, according it 100% export-oriented status.Though major export destination of Indian cut flowers (flowers harvested in clusters or in single along with their stems) were the USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands and UAE during 2014-15, loose flowers (flowers harvested without stalk) like jasmines and marigold are generally exported to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and West Asian countries. China, India and Peru are leading producers and exporters of marigold.The annual world trade in marigold is currently estimated to be around Rs 500 crore.Singh said, "In recent times, flower importers have been shifting their focus to India and Ethiopia for cheaper flowers in the wake of rising cost of production in Kenya - the world's largest exporter."Quoting reports from the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), he said, "India could overtake Kenya in floriculture in the near future."The NHB managing director has reasons to believe the KenInvest reports as he enlisted a number of factors which are conducive for the floriculture sector to grow substantially in future."The traditional disadvantage associated with the 'small farm holding' is an advantage in floriculture ventures. Even non-arable land can be put to agricultural use since protected floriculture involves specific growing media or amendment of the existing soil," said Singh.