With markets closed, farmers are dumping flowers

Many floriculturists are in dire straits, says G.M. Divakar, president of the K.R. Market Flower Merchants’ Association

Bharath T., an engineering diploma holder who quit his job to become a floriculturist, has been turning away labourers coming to his farm in J. Venkatapura, Vijayapura, near Devanahalli, to harvest marigold flowers. The yellow flowers are in full bloom on four acres while buds in the remaining four acres will bloom in the next fortnight or so. But, with no takers for flowers, he is not sure if he can even afford to harvest the flowers this time. “I pledged my mother’s gold jewellery to raise money for the saplings and fertilisers. I even bought tankers to water the farm. I will not be able to recover the investment,” he rued. The city’s sole flower market in K.R. Market has remained closed since the government announced a curfew a few weeks ago. With flower vendors forced to do business outside the market for just a few hours, it has had a direct effect on floriculturists like Mr. Bharath.