Flowers in bighas of land are withering in farm as there is no demand resulting in heavy losses for the cultivators.
A flower grower Hardhan Biswas, residing at Matikola village, five kilometres from the main town Hojai said from March last to mid April, he had to bear a loss of near about Rs 2.5 lakhs.
Biswas said,”Since three decades now, I have been in floriculture business, people now recognize me as flower man. I grow golden coloured Marigold, red roses, tuberose, pot Marigold (Calendula) and gerbera and other types of ornamental flowers in polyhouse and decorative plants within my five bighas of land also along with this I also cultivate vegetables like water melon, strawberry, bottle gourd in another one bigha of land .”
“Every year, the floriculturist waits for this season, in a hope for good business as during these days many festival’s like Bihu, Ramnavmi, Pohela Boishek (Bengali New Year), Hanuman Jayanti, Akshaya Tritya, many marriage ceremonies are solmenized.
But this year this festivities couldn’t be celebrated with religious fervour and were limited to household only and marriage ceremonies are not happening due to lockdown, this has resulted into cancellation of many orders which were booked in advance and as there is no demand of flowers for decoration, offerings to deities, garland,bouquets, the flowers in bighas of land are now withered, even the plants are damaged, as at present people are busy in stock piling essential commodities ,now flowers are not of much significance now, Biswas said.
Biswas asserted, “My recurring sale is also totally hampered as flower vendors stopped purchasing as all the religious places and markets are closed. The people who were dependent on my business like labourers, local vendors are too suffering.”
“Our survival is dependent on this business, I have never faced such situation. It requires maintainance cost, labourers cost; etc, how will I bear the loss,he asked and added Government should come to rescue us from this loss and provide us compensation.The authorities should take steps to provide water facility, we are struggling for water in growing flowers, a spring cooler, set up a floriculture market in Hojai district for trading purpose, which will help in employment generation too,” Biswas said.
In the district’s, Lumding area too many farmer’s do flower cultivation, they are also reeling under the same problem.