Kolar: What was once considered drought-prone district, has emerged as a hub for fruit, vegetable, and now floriculture cultivation in Kolar. The district, known for mango production, has seen hundreds of farmers shift to floriculture in recent years. Nearly 2,500 hectares across Kolar now cultivate rose, marigold, and chrysanthemum (sevanthige), with medium-scale farmers investing in open-field cultivation and a few experimenting with polyhouses and net houses.However, the current season has brought disappointment. Soon after dasara, flower prices plummeted, leaving farmers struggling to recover even the labour costs. During dasara, roses and sevanthige sold at around Rs 200 per kg in retail markets, while marigold fetched Rs 120. Wholesale prices were Rs 160 for roses and sevanthige and Rs 90 for marigold. Now, roses and sevanthige are being sold at Rs 40–60/kg wholesale and Rs 60–100 retail, while marigold fetches Rs 20–30 wholesale and Rs 60 retail. Many growers have been forced to discard unsold flowers by the roadside or let them wither in fields.”The main reason for this crisis is oversupply,” said Nagaraja Gowda, a farmer from S Agrahara village. “Farmers who faced losses in tomato cultivation shifted to floriculture, creating a glut that exceeds local demand. Lack of proper marketing and storage facilities has worsened our losses.” He added prices peaked during dasara but fell sharply afterward, with possible recovery expected only around Deepavali and New Year when northern markets like Mumbai and Delhi increase demand.Kumaraswamy, deputy director of horticulture, pointed out quality issues as another factor. “Excessive pesticide use affects flower quality, and recent heavy rains have damaged blooms, leading wholesalers to reject large quantities,” he said. Govindappa, assistant statistical officer, added protected cultivation could improve quality, but polyhouses and net houses remain costly for most farmers. “Some have installed lighting in open fields, but it’s effective only within net houses,” he noted. But despite these challenges, officials remain cautiously optimistic. With festive demand in the coming weeks, farmers may recover part of their losses if proper marketing strategies and storage facilities are leveraged.
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