More single parents to benefit as ‘Cut Rose’ project expands

The Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Cut Rose’ project involved the cultivation of fresh roses locally and with the project recording much success in 2023, subject minister Zulfikar Mustapha said more single parents are set to benefit as the project expands to other parts of the country.

“… We are trying to expand it.

“I am looking forward to when this is established enough, we can take it to other regions,” Mustapha told reporters during an interview this week.

This project was conceptualised to create employment for single parents who are able to make a profit by selling the roses cheaper than is available in the marketplace. The project earned over $4 million in the first half of this year.

The National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) sells the roses for $500 each and they could be resold at up to $2500. According to Mustapha, some roses can be sold for $300 and single parents can sell those back at much higher prices.

Single roses in the marketplace are generally sold for $1000 to $2000 and Mustapha explained that this means the single parents who resell the cut roses can make substantial profits.