Bhopal: Guna, steadily gaining recognition as the ‘City of Roses’ across the country, is set to see its farmers’ hard work reach new heights with the support of the Madhya Pradesh government.
Currently, around 20–25 farmers in Guna, with assistance from the Horticulture Department and NBC, are cultivating roses and have already made a mark in Jaipur and Delhi. Now, efforts are underway to take the fragrance of Guna’s roses to global markets like London and Paris.
The state government, through its floriculture initiatives, is working with the objective of doubling farmers’ incomes. As part of this effort, the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) has also stepped forward to help Guna’s roses earn international recognition.
On July 16, a team of export experts from MPIDC will visit Guna to explore the export potential and train farmers on the formalities and processes involved in international trade. MPIDC will also facilitate coordination between farmers and exporters to ensure smooth export operations.
With this support, Guna’s roses could soon be spreading their fragrance in international cities like Paris and London, much like those from Pune and Bengaluru.
At present, about 20–25 farmers are cultivating roses over an area of approximately 25 acres in Guna. Estimates suggest that a farmer can earn a net profit of ₹10–12 lakhs annually from one acre of rose cultivation.
Encouraged by this growing interest, the Horticulture Department plans to set up polyhouses over 50 acres during 2025–26 to prepare 150 farmers for rose cultivation. A roadmap is also being prepared to expand this area to 500 acres in the next five years.
To help rose growers understand the nuances of polyhouse rose cultivation, the Horticulture Department plans to take farmer delegations to Pune and Talegaon in Maharashtra for exposure visits.
According to Guna’s Deputy Director of Horticulture, Shri K.P.S. Kirar, each polyhouse covers 2,500 sq. ft. and costs ₹1,000 per sq. ft., totaling about ₹25 lakh per unit. The department provides a 50% subsidy (₹12.5 lakh) for the construction of each polyhouse.
Notably, Guna’s roses have previously won first and second place at the All India Rose Exhibition and have also been nominated under the “Because of Hope” category in the SKOCH National Awards 2025.
