Hayleys enters local flower market

Sri Lankan flowers that grace homes around the world have inspired a new business initiative by Hayleys Agriculture to develop the local market for cut flowers and horticultural plants.

With more than three decades of expertise in nursery management, production of hybrid flower seeds and growing, harvesting and exporting flowers and young plants, the Group says it can now double production at its 18 hectare facility in the central highlands to supply local enthusiasts and has begun appointing distributors and agents for the purpose.

"We can increase production to 100,000 flowers a month whenever we want to," Hayleys Agriculture Managing Director Rizvi Zaheed said.

"Up to last year, 100 percent of our production was exported, but already the local market accounts for 5 percent and domestic demand is projected to increase," he said.

Newly appointed distributors for Hayleys Quality Seeds and Flowers are reporting rapidly increasing sales and the potential for new employment generation in this sector is significant, Zaheed said. Among the customers of Hayleys Quality Seeds & Flowers are some of the global top five seed breeders. The company's employees are highly skilled and qualified, as F1 hybrid flower seed production involves precise specialized operations such as hand pollination and emasculation.