Guna City of Roses: A Floral Revolution via Polyhouses – Horticulture and Food Processing Department, Guna, Madhya Pradesh
Guna City of Roses: A Floral Revolution via Polyhouses
Problem
Low agricultural income due to dependence on traditional, low-return crops.
• Lack of awareness and access to high-value floriculture practices.
• Underemployment and youth migration due to limited local agribusiness opportunities.
• Unused agro-climatic potential of Guna district for floriculture.
• Missed opportunity to tap the high urban demand for roses.
Solution
• Introduced polyhouse-based rose cultivation with 50% DBT government subsidy.
• Conducted awareness drives, technical training, and farmer handholding.
• Established market linkages with Delhi, Indore, Bhopal, and Jaipur.
• Provided continuous support for polyhouse construction and rose cultivation techniques.
• Created a brand identity and roadmap for scaling Guna as a floral hub.
Outcomes
• Over 20 acres brought under hybrid rose cultivation in controlled polyhouse conditions.
• Farmers reported annual incomes of ₹10–12 lakh/acre, driving economic self-reliance.
• Rose shipments initiated to major urban markets.
• Youth-led self-employment reduced migration and created local agribusiness ventures.
• Guna’s reputation as a national floriculture center strengthened.
SKOCH Award Nominee
Category: State Government – Horticulture and Food Processing Department
Sub-Category: secState Government – Horticulture and Food Processing Department
Project: Guna City of Roses: A Floral Revolution via Polyhouses
Start Date: 4-01-2018
Organisation: Horticulture and Food Processing Department, Guna, Madhya Pradesh
Respondent: Kishore Kumar Kanyal
https://mphorticulture.gov.in
Level: Club Star
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Case Study
Guna City of Roses: A Floral Revolution via Polyhouses
The “Guna City of Roses” initiative by the Horticulture and Food Processing Department of Madhya Pradesh is redefining rural prosperity through a focused floriculture transformation program. Launched formally in January 2025 under the direction of the District Collector and executed by the Deputy Director of Horticulture, this polyhouse rose cultivation initiative has made Guna the epicenter of floricultural growth in central India.
Although rose cultivation under polyhouse conditions had been attempted earlier on a small scale, the 2025 campaign brought systematic expansion and large-scale farmer integration. The initial phase began with a climate and soil suitability study, which identified Guna as ideal for hybrid rose cultivation. The region’s temperate micro-climate, soil structure, and connectivity to markets made it strategically advantageous.
Between January and May 2025, a focused action plan was deployed. This included mobilization of farmers, disbursal of a 50% subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer, and regular training sessions. Farmers were taught about high-yield rose varieties, irrigation control, pruning, disease prevention, and harvesting cycles. Field visits, exposure to successful growers, and community-level demonstrations helped build trust.
Approximately 20 acres were brought under cultivation within months. Continuous handholding ensured adherence to optimal practices. This resulted in high-quality blooms and consistent production. Market linkages were simultaneously developed, connecting growers to Delhi, Bhopal, Indore, and Jaipur. Local collection centers and supply chains were activated, enabling timely movement of perishable flowers.
A key strength of the project was inclusivity. Many youth, women, and first-time agri-entrepreneurs were encouraged to join. This reduced the pressure of urban migration, sparked self-employment, and energized the local economy. With returns of ₹10–12 lakh/acre annually, rose cultivation under polyhouses became a viable business model.
Challenges during implementation included farmer hesitation, delayed subsidies, and a lack of technical know-how. These were tackled through aggressive IEC campaigns, trust-building exercises, and a grievance redressal mechanism. Inter-departmental convergence played a major role, especially through Collector-led interventions.
Going forward, the district plans to expand coverage to 500 acres, position Guna as India’s leading “City of Roses”, and enter the national and international floral trade. Plans are underway for value addition through rose oil extraction, packaging units, and floral tourism.
This scalable, replicable model has been recognized for its alignment with national missions like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, and the Doubling Farmer Income initiative.
For more information, please contact:
Kishore Kumar Kanyal at dmguna@nic.in
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