Shillong, Feb 13 (PTI) A 'romantic' north-east will consume more than one lakh exotic red roses this Valentine's Day as the demand for the flower of love is growing exorbitantly. "Our flowers retail shops in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram tops the list with demands of over 38,000 'exotic reds' on Valentine's Day alone," Rajesh Shah, Managing Director of Zopar Exports, leading rose cultivator, told PTI. Otherwise, he said, "On an average day north-east consumes about 10,000 flower varieties each day". While roses will be sold at a higher cost in other places in the country, a buyer will have to shell Rs 20 per rose tomorrow, he said. With the ever growing demand for the exotic reds, especially on V-Day, more flower wholesalers in the region are importing flowers from Bangalore and Hyderabad to meet the demand. This year, Shah said his firm cannot meet the demand due to extreme cold winter extending up to Valentine's Day in all north-east states having rose plantation. He said, "Farmers of the region face the brunt of bad and long winters. With temperature dipping to below 10 degree Celsius till date, roses plants are not opening their shoots". Apart from V-Day, exotic flowers also have a huge demand during weddings and funerals, Shah said.
