| The Philippine flower industry has gone a long way | | | | Luzon. Roses and gerberas are grown in |
| since cut flowers were its major produce in the | | | | greenhouses because the structure protects |
| 1970’s and growers were local hobbyists and | | | | them from the heavy rain and the intense |
| plant enthusiasts. During the 1980’s the flower | | | | summer heat. Jasmine and sampaguita carry |
| industry became more commercialized as it | | | | heavy religious connotations and are strung into |
| generated huge profits and had lots of potential | | | | garlands to be offered to statues in churches. |
| to earn foreign revenues. The land area of flower | | | | Gardens for these flowers are usually located |
| farms grew and growers adapted modern | | | | along roadsides or near churches so the grower |
| techniques and machinery to produce flowers | | | | has an easier time selling them. |
| both Filipinos and other people around the world | | | | Despite innovations and new technology, |
| can enjoy. | | | | horticulturists in the Philippine flower industry still |
| Over the last two decades, growers and | | | | face a few constraints and challenges – |
| enthusiasts realized that the high return on | | | | especially small farmers. For one thing, structures |
| investment, higher standards of living, rapid | | | | like greenhouses have high costs that they cannot |
| population growth, and an influx of tourists led to | | | | afford. The technology in the country still |
| more fickle clients who only want high-standard | | | | can’t handle some new varieties of flowers |
| cut flowers. For a period of nine years (1991 – | | | | like calla and gerbera. While production technology |
| 2000), fresh cut flowers and buds earned USD | | | | can be imported, new agricultural chemicals need |
| 371,281 annually. There was an increase in the | | | | to be bought along with it. Combined with high |
| domestic market’s demand for cut flowers | | | | import taxes, acquiring these can be very |
| and it grew to such an extent that the Philippines | | | | expensive. Even access to credit sources is a |
| had no choice but to import flowers like orchids | | | | problem due to high interest rates on loans. |
| and chrysanthemums to meet the demand – | | | | Although the Philippine flower industry is already |
| particularly on Valentine’s Day, All Saint’s | | | | picking up, horticulturists still encounter problems |
| Day, school graduation months of March and April, | | | | meeting the local and worldwide demand for cut |
| and the Christmas season. | | | | flowers. These issues need to be addressed so |
| All sorts of flowers from asters to roses are | | | | the country can cut down on import costs, and |
| cultivated throughout the Philippines. | | | | so the businesses of small growers can thrive as |
| Chrysanthemums, sampaguita, and gladiolas are | | | | well as the big players in the Philippine flower |
| grown in open fields or in the mountains north of | | | | industry. |