This journey connects back to last year’s 2024 August IIHR Field Day of ‘Arka Parimala’- a rose variety developed by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, in Kalkere village, Hosur, Tamil Nadu.(https://www.iihr.res.in/icar-iihr-has-organized-field-day-arka-parimala-and-arka-savi-conducted-kalkere-village-hosur). What began as a demonstration in the field has now matured into a value-addition ecosystem, an evidence of research transforming to impactful technology leading to an inspiring success story.
When the IIHR team led by the Director, Dr. T. K. Behera visited the dehydrator-based rose processing unit at Khatcheri Medu in Dharampuri Dt., Tamil Nadu, they saw not just machines and petals, but a vision of India’s agriculture standing tall, competing with corporates and driven by farmers who are bold enough to lead. The team of scientists included Floriculture scientist Dr. V.Baskaran and Extension scientists Dr. Senthil Kumar and Dr. V. Sankar. The unit is run by Smt. Anusha along with her daughter. Arka Parimala – a popular rose variety developed by ICAR-IIHR is the integral part of this success story. Arka Parimala is not just a rose variety; it is a symbol of India’s self-reliance in horticulture. Its superior aroma, antioxidant richness and adaptability for value addition like rose tea, rose water and rose oil make it a game-changer for both farmers and industries. What makes this story unique is how a young agripreneur, together with her family, transformed this variety into a value-added business model. Their rose processing centre doesn’t just dry petals; it creates opportunities, sustains livelihoods and uplifts communities.
During the discussions, Anusha and Anjana shared the hard realities of the rose trade. Initially, they sold organic dry rose petals at ₹1,800 per kg. One vendor purchased 1.2 tons but later attempted to exploit them, demanding the price drop to just ₹600 per kg, far below production costs. Upon investigation, they discovered that the same material was being resold at 55 USD per kg, eventually reaching the global market as herbal tea priced at 100 USD for just half a kilogram. Instead of yielding to middlemen, they made a bold decision to launch their own premium AIMKART Rose Herbal Tea brand.
With zero chemicals, zero added colors and 100% natural purity, the tea brand carries both authenticity and purpose. They invested ₹45 lakhs into tea-making machinery, secured FSSAI and AGMARK certifications and backed it with existing NOP and NPOP organic certificates. Today, they already have pre-orders for 120 kg of premium tea, bundled in world-class packaging and priced at ₹9,500 per kg through a direct B2C model.
The processing unit is providing employment to local tribal communities, making it a beacon of inclusive progress. Employment, dignity and purpose are embedded in every kilogram of dried rose petals.
Highly impressed with the level transformation an IIHR variety has brought in the lives of a farmer cum entrepreneur, the Director observed, “When farmers create structured enterprises, farming is no less than corporates. It is equally professional, equally powerful, and equally purposeful. There is no failure, only feedback; this young agripreneur used market exploitation as feedback to build her own premium brand. People already have all the resources they need to succeed—this centre proves it with refugees, tribals and IIHR technology. Change is the only constant and those who adapt—like these farmers—will define the future of Indian agriculture.”
As the IIHR Director concluded: “When science and farmers walk hand in hand, India not only grows food but also grows futures.”
This is the story of research empowering entrepreneurship. And above all, it is the story of Indian farmers stepping into the global stage with dignity, innovation and purpose.
