The production of flowers in the state has got affected badly owing to the changing weather pattern and unpredictable rainfall. According to experts a 50 per cent decline in flower production on some farms is inevitable. Experts have also cited export of some flowers dropping by 80% over last year.

Field flowers like marigold, tuberose, chrysanthemum and gladiolus and the greenhouse flowers like gerbera, rose and carnation have been worst hit by the untimely rains.
Vinay Madhav Shinde, technical co-ordinator at the Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals (ISFP) said that days encompassing the characteristics of all the three seasons have ruined the yield this time. There have been cool and sunny mornings, scorching and moist afternoons and flash rains in the evenings.

Many varieties have been seen developing fungal infections like botrytis and downy mildew on account of the erratic weather. In downy mildew some grey velvety patches of spores are formed on the lower surfaces of the leaves, whereas botrytis badly affects flowers after export. Shinde said, “Exporters have received complaints after their consignments had been delivered. Downy mildew defoliates the plant and reduces its vibrancy. It causes the leaves to shed and reduces the size of the flower. Such flowers are not marketable.”

Flowers bloom and blossom briskly during winter, but for the last couple of months weather changes have hit production in regions like Nashik, Satara, Sangli and Pune. Shinde said, “A 20 to 50 per cent decline in production has been noticed. The flower market has experienced losses of Rs 8 to 10 crore. Exports have dipped by 25 to 30 percent.”

Medha Borse, president of the state flower growers’ association, thinks that the unpredictable weather and untimely rains are responsible for the decreased rose production, because the plant is more vulnerable to diseases like downy mildew.

Borse said, “Rose production has come down by 30 to 50 per cent. We get as many as 300 rose bunches daily during good weather conditions. This has come down to 160-170 bunches per day.”

According to Borse, fungal infections have taken a heavy toll on carnations and gerberas this time.”The marriage season has pushed up the demand for flowers, but the weather conditions have led to a shortage of supply. The production is 40 per cent less this time,” she said.

Vrinda Sangawar, the owner of a flower shop at Koregaon Park, admits that flowers are coming in with a shorter shelf-life. “We deal in flowers such as roses, gladioli, lilies, gerberas, asters and orchids. Due to lesser production, their prices have almost doubled,” she said.

- Yogesh Sapre