Human Flower Project

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Yunnan- Titan of Asia’s Flower Industry

Flower farmers in Thailand struggle to maintain their livelihood as blooms from China flood the market.

Giant banana flower from Yunnan Province, China

Photo: Nature Products

In the world of cut-flowers, there’s a new contender for capitol/capital: Yunnan. Growers in Chaing Mai, Thailand, already feel the shadow of China’s burgeoning industry, according to this piece by Marwaan Macan-Markar.

” ‘We have been getting a lot of Chinese flowers since two years ago,’’ says Patthama Praephon, 53, (of Fang, Thailand) as she opened a newly arrived box of red roses from China. ‘‘These will be going to the south, to Phuket and Songkhla.’’

“Wholesale flower traders like Patthama, who has been in the business for nearly 30 years, says that the flowers from China are delivered within two days of placing the order. ‘Some of them may be more expensive, but they last longer and are more beautiful.’‘’’

According to this article, a free trade agreement between the two nations, signed in 2003, has already put 40% of Thai farmers out of business. China produced 2 billion stems in 2000, and Beijing plans to double that output by 2010. Though flowers are grown in much of Southern China, the nation’s greenhouse is Yunnan province, known as “Land of Eternal Spring.”

Thailand’s floral hope seems to be its range of orchids (until Chinese farmers learn to grow them, that is). Following the example of the China’s highly successful 1999 Kunming Horticulture Exposition, Thailand will stage an international flower fair of its own later this year. “The event, to be held in Chiang Mai from Nov. 6 to Jan. 31, celebrates two events linked to the country’s revered monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej—his diamond jubilee on the throne and his 80th birthday.”

There’s no denying the bounty of Yunnan, and though there surely are “buy organic” “buy fair” and “buy local” initiatives in the marketing of cut-flowers, thus far buyers seem to be more interested in price and quality than ethics. ‘’‘The demand for flowers depends on the economy but the people don’t know where they come from. They don’t ask,’’ says Samittupat Jarnlan, a flower vendor at Pak Klong Talat. ‘‘The Chinese flowers are here to stay.’”