No cash, over 6,000 Uttarakhand flower growers in distress

DEHRADUN: Around 6,000 flower-farmers (floriculturists) in the state are spending sleepless nights post-demonetisation. According to office-bearers of the state’s floriculture association, there has been a dip of up to 70% in their business despite it being the peak wedding season when sales are usually high.
“We are supplying flowers to all the major markets across the country but have not been getting cash payment which is now threatening to affect our supply,” said Manmohan Bhardwaj, president of the floriculture association.The state’s flower business is pegged at almost Rs 200 crore and constitutes almost 2% of the cut flowers supplied to major mandis across the country.
Flowers native to the Uttarakhand hills like Gerbera -- from the daisy family -- are in high demand. However, due to the demonetisation effect, many floriculturists have now started selling these expensive varieties at throwaway prices. “Gerbera is generally sold for Rs 10 to 12 per spike but now its going rate is Rs 4 to 5 since demand for flowers has dipped drastically. Not many families having weddings are ordering exotic flowers citing a cash crunch,” said Bhardwaj.
Those farmers who took a loan hoping to repay it with the profits made during the season are the worst hit. “Over 1,500 hectare land in Uttarakhand is dedicated to flower cultivation but demonetisation has acted as an insect during blossom season for us. The government should immediately give us some relaxation in terms of the interest being levied on our loans,” said Amit Pandey, a flower farmer near Herbertpur, almost 35 km from Dehradun.
Many farmers said that they were afraid of going ahead with the production of winter flowers such as carnation and lilium. “A flower like carnation which costs almost Rs 15 to 18 during the wedding season is currently going for Rs 8 to 10. Flowers are highly perishable products which is why we are forced to sell them even at a loss. During our peak season, we have been dealt such a severe blow that we are now wary of planning our produce for the future,” said Balbir Camboj, a flower farmer from Nainital.
According to Bhardwaj, the situation can be salvaged if wholesalers in big flower mandis were are allowed to accept Rs 500 and 1000 notes and cash flow is resumed “so that the small flower farmers are paid on time.”
BS Negi, director of the state horticulture department, when queried about the matter, said, “We will approach state government as well as the Union government to apprise them of the situation so that some relief can be extended to flower farmers.”