Male florists thrive in Labasa

There is increased interest from men to join the floriculture industry in Vanua Levu to join the Labasa Florist Association (LFA).

Association president Asheem Khan said they now had five male florists as active members compared to previous years.

Mr Khan said people perceive this industry as women-dominated and women centered, however this mindset had now shifted with males observing the thriving business opportunity.

“To be a florist, it is a wonderful achievement because you get a chance to decorate people’s life by supplying beautiful and exotic plants to suit the occasion,” he said.

They coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture trainers and held a marcotting and grafting training session.

Grafting is an agricultural term used to describe the process of inserting a shoot or twig of a desirable plant with good qualities introduced on a primary plant.

Marcotting is a horticultural technique for propagating plants by encouraging roots to form on a stem while it’s still attached to the parent plant.

He said grafted plants fetched a good price at the market because of their desirable traits.

“I have been selling grafted and marcotted plants for 15 years from my home and Labasa Market,” he said.

Mr Khan said they had not received any grant from the ministry despite many requests.

“We want assistance like farming implements, nursery screens, seedlings of various plants, etc,” he said.