PRICES of roses have hit the roof as supply chains into Malaysia are affected by the emerging Covid-19 Omicron variant, the subsequent flight restrictions, and the year-end monsoon, florists said.

Wholesaler Sally Chai, who has been in the business for more than 30 years, told The Malaysian Insight that this was her first encounter with a serious shortage of imported and local fresh flowers.

She said the ban on direct or connecting flights from Africa, in response to Omicron, had affected the import of roses from Kenya.

Malaysia has suspended flights from Africa and banned Malaysians from travelling to South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, where the variant has appeared.

China has also restricted the export of flowers, Chai said.

As a result, the prices of imported roses have tripled, with some varieties of roses increasing by more than three times, Chai said.

She said the bulk of rose imports are from Kenya, China, and India.

“There is also insufficient production of local roses and other types of flowers grown in Cameron Highlands, Pahang due to the impact of the rainy season,” she said.

Local flower growers are also facing manpower shortage and soaring prices of fertilisers.

Chai said she has to explain the situation to florists who are after fresh flowers.

“Right now, the supply of roses in the market is very small, and the price will naturally be expensive.

“We pray for a miracle to solve the problem of supply in a week. Currently, we are searching everywhere for a supply of fresh roses,” she said.

Chai also said besides florists, temples and churches also require flowers.

Rose substitutes

Florist Peilynn said the volume of floral imports had been gradually decreasing for three months.

“Due to the movement-control order, weddings could not be held.

“But as states entered the third and fourth stages of the recovery phase, weddings and marriage registrations could take place and that was when the acute shortage of roses was felt,” she said.

She said the price of imported roses had risen by at least 30%.

Roses are graded by colour and variety.

Peilynn said imported roses cost 90% more than local ones.

“The price increase of imported flowers is also caused by high freight costs,” she said.

When she runs out of stock, she recommends preserved roses or soap roses to her customers.

Preserved roses are roses dried by a special process that retains their bloom.

Soap flowers are soap carved to look like roses, hydrangeas and carnations.

“Preserved roses have a longer shelf life so the price is much higher than ordinary rose bouquets while soap roses are cheaper than real roses,” Peilynn said.

“It has been two years since the epidemic and the movement restrictions had prohibited florists from operating.

“Business volume has decreased by 40%. And now the shortage of roses has made our lives more difficult,” she said.

Demand, meanwhile, has increased as more new stores open and more funerals are held

She said there is rising demand for sunflowers thanks to a wave of graduation ceremonies at universities and colleges.

“Malaysia still depends on China for hydrangeas, eustoma, carnations and peonies because these are in short supply in Cameron Highlands,” she said.

Flower growers’ dilemma

Cameron Highlands Floriculturists Association president Lee Peng Fo said flower growers discarded RM100 million worth of flowers during the MCO period.

This has caused the farmers to stop planting more flowers for fear they would go to waste, Lee said.

“We were really afraid. During that period, we discarded flowers every day, and our hearts were bleeding,” he said.

On top of that, Lee said the flower growers in Cameron Highlands need at least 5,000 employees. The pandemic has exacerbated their trouble of manpower shortage faced for many years.

He added the year end monsoon will also affect the output of flowers.

“With more rain and less sunlight, the output of flowers will naturally decrease,” Lee said.

Currently, the high-quality chrysanthemums grown in Camerons are mainly exported to Japan, Thailand, Singapore and other countries.

He said that only 20% of the highland’s flowers are supplied to local florists because Camerons grows fewer varieties of roses and other flowers, which do not match the variety required by the local flower shops.

“We hope that the government will allow flower farmers to hire foreign workers.

“If foreign workers come to work in March next year, flower farmers are expected to get back on track,” Lee said. – December 19, 2021.