§1What this business is

Gerbera plants are planted at 8 per sq m in a polyhouse where temperature, humidity and water are controlled. Plants flower for about two years without dividing. Flowers are cut when the outer florets show pollen and sold for bouquets, weddings and events.

Capacity: 24,000 plants; 8,64,000 flowers a year (36 per plant after 10% loss).

§2Is it right for you?

Who it is for

A landowning farmer near a city flower market who can handle protected cultivation.

Who it is not for

Someone far from flower markets or without cold-chain access.

Advantages

  • Controlled growing gives better flower quality
  • Plants yield for about two years per planting
  • Strong wedding and event demand
  • Horticulture subsidies cover polyhouse cost

Drawbacks

  • High capital cost per sq m
  • Prices fall sharply in off-season
  • Flowers perish within days without cold chain
  • Disease in the polyhouse can wipe out a crop

Skills you need

  • Polyhouse crop management
  • Fertigation and pest control
  • Harvest timing and grading
  • Selling to flower wholesalers

Why difficulty 4/5: Big investment and perishable produce need careful management.

§3Market

Who buys

  • Flower wholesalers in city markets
  • Florists and bouquet makers
  • Wedding and event decorators

How it sells

  • Open-yard wholesale flower markets
  • Florist showrooms
  • Growers' cooperatives

Good to know

  • The report calls cut-flower marketing in India largely unorganised, with a few large merchants buying most produce.
  • Optimum wet storage is 4°C; flowers keep up to 4 weeks (report).

§4Raw material & machinery

ItemQtyCost
Polyhouse structure, 3,000 sq m1₹25,32,000 (₹844 per sq m)
Tractor1₹3,00,000
Farming equipment1 lot₹75,000
Store and water tank1₹2,00,000

From: PMEGP sample project report — Gerbera Cultivation (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

  • Gerbera plants24,000 plants at ₹26 each; 5% mortality allowed
  • Chemicals and fertilisers₹5.48 L in the plantation cost
  • Bed preparation and fumigation₹4.00 L

From: PMEGP sample project report — Gerbera Cultivation (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

§5Licences & registration

  1. Land records for the farm
  2. Registration with the state horticulture department for subsidy
  3. Udyam registration if run as an enterprise
  4. GST if turnover crosses the limit (fresh flowers are generally exempt)

We can do this registration for you

§6Schemes & subsidies

NHB and state horticulture missions support polyhouses; PMEGP and AIF may fit; CGTMSE for credit.

§7Money

How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report: polyhouse 3,000 sq m at ₹844 = ₹25.32 L, plantation 3,000 sq m at ₹610 = ₹18.30 L, tractor ₹3.00 L, farm equipment ₹0.75 L, store and water tank ₹2.00 L = ₹49.37 L. Land owned. Term loan ₹36.00 L.

Working capital: No separate working-capital line; plantation cost ₹18.30 L includes plants ₹6.55 L, chemicals and fertilisers ₹5.48 L, bed preparation ₹4.00 L and labour ₹2.27 L. Replanting cost is written off every three years.

Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.

How to prepare a loan file

§8Export potential

Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export

0603.19Fresh cut flowers and flower buds — other

Export council / board: APEDA

  • HS codes are from the WCO HS 2022 list; confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
  • You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.

§9Risks — where people fail

  • Price crash in lean months
  • Disease and pests
  • Polyhouse damage in storms
  • Transport delays spoiling flowers

§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan

A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.

  1. Days 1–30: Visit a working gerbera cultivation (polyhouse) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
  2. Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Land records for the farm, Registration with the state horticulture department for subsidy), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
  3. Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.

§11Who to connect with

Not verified yet

Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect

§12Watch

There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.

Want to start Gerbera Cultivation (Polyhouse)?

DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.

Get a DPR / loan file made

Sources

  1. PMEGP sample project report — Gerbera Cultivation (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)

Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.