Flower growers hit by drought, poor price

Gadag: Severe rainfall deficiency in the district has affected flower cultivation, resulting in a sharp decline in yield. Even the limited produce available is fetching poor prices, leaving growers in distress.Flower plants are grown in Kadampur, Lakkundi, Kanivenahosur, Papanashi and several other parts of the district. Farmers traditionally earned good returns from flower cultivation, particularly during the month of Shravana when demand usually remained high.However, the failure of rains this year has reduced soil moisture, while declining groundwater levels and high temperatures have further affected yields. Farmers said they have suffered heavy losses due to the combination of low production and poor prices.Interestingly, flower prices are high in the retail market. Farmers alleged that agents and traders at Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) are purchasing flowers from growers at low prices and selling them at significantly higher rates.”Flowers are being brought to APMCs from other districts at low prices. Local farmers are being forced to sell their produce at the same rates. Cultivating chrysanthemum on an acre involves an investment of lakhs of rupees, but we are forced to sell the produce at whatever price is offered. On several occasions, farmers have had to leave unsold flowers at the APMCs,” said Eshwar Gadugin, a flower grower from Kadampur.“In previous years, I used to harvest and sell around 20 quintals of marigold and 10 quintals of chrysanthemum from an acre every day. Now, I am not getting even four quintals per acre. Agents are exploiting farmers despite charging Rs 1,250 as commission for bringing fresh flowers to the market every day,” he said.A Horticulture Department official said compensation could be provided if flower crops were damaged due to natural calamities—Rs 8,500 per hectare for rainfed land and Rs 17,000 for irrigated land. However, regulation of market prices does not come under the department’s purview.Umar Farooq Hubballi, a flower vendor said: “I purchase flowers from APMCs at higher prices and sell them in the wholesale and retail markets. Chrysanthemum is priced at Rs 300 a kg, jasmine at Rs 600 and marigold at Rs 100 to Rs 200.”“Just a month ago, flower prices were between Rs 150 and Rs 200 a kg. Now, they have fallen to Rs 50 to Rs 100. We expect prices to rise during the upcoming festival season,” said Adivappa Pujari, a flower grower from Kadampur.Adiveppa Pujari, Kadampur FarmerJust a month ago flower prices were between Rs 150 and Rs 200 a kg. Now they have fallen to Rs 50 to Rs 100. We expect prices to rise during the upcoming festival season.‘Planning to destroy crop’“I have been cultivating chrysanthemum and marigold by supplying tanker water two to three times a week as there is no water in my borewell due to the rainfall deficit this year. Last year I earned around Rs 8 lakh. This year I have had to sell flowers for as little as Rs 10 to Rs 20 a kg. I have depended on flower cultivation for my livelihood for years but now it has become difficult to make ends meet” said flower grower Anandgoud Patil. He said he had earlier forced a ban on bringing flowers from other districts to the APMC. But it started again. He completely depends on the Gadag market to sell produce. He decided to destroy the crop in a few days.

Source: Deccan Herald