Flower trade wilts under lockdown

In pre-COVID occasions, about two dozen hamlets in Nagalapuram, Pitchatur, Narayanavanam and Puttur mandals within the district used to abuzz with exercise in the summertime months.

It was throughout summer time that flowers, primarily jasmine and tuberose, used to promote like sizzling desserts. Many gunny sacks of jasmine was once loaded on to APSRTC buses and vans certain for the Koyambedu flower market in Chennai.

After COVID struck the nation final 12 months in March, round 200 households in these hamlets who predominantly rely on cultivation of various flowers have been left in dire straits. A lot of them are small farmers rising the flower varieties in only a quarter of an acre.

Though their enterprise resumed in September, their fortunes have been but to return. Just as issues have been getting again to regular, the second wave hit the nation in March dashing their hopes. Presently, not even a single sack is reaching Chennai, which is under rigorous lockdown strictures. It has been two months for the reason that flowers of their small-sized gardens has seen any takers. Only just a few households that aren’t used to lacking the each day pujas purchase these flowers.

It is barely a namesake enterprise on the buying and selling factors (mandis) elsewhere within the district. “Before the pandemic, we used to get good money for our stocks immediately. Now we are just dumping our flower sacks there. Once in a week or fortnight, we get our payment, ten times less than our customary price. We can’t protest too. We have no choice but to abandon the crop,” says Mutthurasa (30), a farmer of Nagalapuram mandal.

Pitchatur worst hit

Pitchatur mandal is understood for producing the best jasmines, due to the presence of the Araniyar reservoir, which serves the pursuits of lots of of farmers. The enough degree of groundwater desk is one more reason for bumper crops of flowers right here. However, the pandemic has robbed the happiness of the growers within the mandal, which has taken the brunt.

At Narayanavanam mandal headquarters, over 100 flower distributors have been left with out consolation since March final 12 months. Their clients have been variety of pilgrims visiting the Kalyana Venkateswara Temple right here.

“Most of our customers are now not willing to buy flowers. The fear of infection inhibits them from approaching us. It seems they have made up their minds to do without flowers for a few more months,” stated a flower vendor Velamma (55).