The dry winter season in Jammu has affected the flower growers as the yield has been low this year with farmers suffering huge losses.
Most of the cultivators, especially involved in marigold crop, used mainly in religious and marriage functions, has faced maximum burnt as the flower size is very small. This has pushed the prices down forcing cultivators to sell their produce at cheaper rates. Around 1,000 hectors of land is under the cultivation of different varieties of flowers, particularly marigold, jasmine, aster, rose, chrysanthemum and tuberose in J&K.
The affected areas include RS Pura, Udheywala and Marh, which supply flowers to Jammu city.
“The profit margin is linked to the quality, but this year farmers are also not getting expected yield, which is adding to their worry. There is also no support from the Floriculture Department for the loss,” said Tejinder Singh, president of the Flower Growers Association.
As per estimate, it costs Rs 2,000 per kanal to cultivate flower plants, but in case of losses due to weather related issues, the compensation is provided at Rs 200 per kanal, a discouragement for farmers to grow flowers.
A cultivator from Marh, Capt Yashpaul said, “I adopted flower cultivation because of high margins of profits, but for the last two years we have not been getting the expected yield. Either it is dry weather or unexpected rains which destroy our crops.”
However, the most common problem faced by these growers is shortage of infrastructure for the processing of the flowers as the state still does not have cold storage facilities, refrigerated vans and greenhouses and the transportation process is still old making it difficult for the cultivators to reach out to the international market.
While accepting that the yield is low this year, Floriculture Officer (Jammu) Ishtiaq Ahmad Malik said the problem was more in the Kandi belt and the area which were rain-fed. “It was expected as the temperature remained high during the winter, which has cast its affect on the flower growth. It is a natural phenomenon beyond our control,” said Malik.
The geographical area of Jammu is about 1 lakh sq km and the net cropped area of about 3.86 lakh hectares. Usually farmers grow maize, wheat, paddy, vegetables and fodder, but in recent years under the concept of crop diversification programme the government is encouraging the cultivation of flowers.
Flower cultivators suffer losses due to dry winter
