Wayanad effect: Kerala’s muted Onam spells disaster for TN flower farmers
According to farmers in Coimbatore, over 110 tonnes of flowers were sent to Kerala during Onam last year, but this year’s sale has dropped to just 15 tonnes
The Wayanad disaster in July that left more than 400 people dead or missing has had a disastrous effect on the flower farmers and dealers in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu as well.
As the Kerala government, respecting public sentiment, muted the Onam celebrations this year, the order of flowers from Tamil Nadu — mostly Coimbatore district — for the festival has dropped by a whopping 87 per cent compared to last year. Onam is on Sunday (September 14).
Shock for Coimbatore flowers farmers, traders
The Left-run Kerala government had already announced that Onam would not be celebrated this year due to the landslides that struck Wayanad in the early hours of July 30. Instead, it urged people to help those affected. Educational institutions, commercial entities, and private companies and organisations have also decided not to celebrate the festival like other years.
However, the news came as a shock for the flower farmers of Coimbatore, who eagerly await this season for good business. Thondamuthur block in Coimbatore is popular for its flower cultivation.
The Coimbatore flower market, which has over 150 flower shops and more than 500 vendors, also relies heavily on the Onam season. Large orders usually come from the bordering Palakkad, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts in Kerala.
From 110 to 15 tonnes
As hundreds of vendors, who had placed orders with farmers, cancelled those a week ago, many farmers left the flowers on the plants to save the plucking costs at least. Many dumped their flower produce in the fields due to the sharp drop in prices. The prices offered were reportedly not even a third of the money they spent on the cultivation.
Farmers typically sell their produce to wholesale traders a week in advance so that the flower parcels can be packed and sent to shops in Kerala. According to farmers in Coimbatore, over 110 tonnes of flowers were sent to Kerala during Onam last year, but this year’s sale has dropped to just 15 tonnes.
Prices slashed by half
Marigold and common globe amaranth are the main varieties used to create the floral pookkalam patterns during Onam. As a result, prices of marigold even skyrocket to Rs 100 per kg during this season. But this year, the prices were slashed by half.
TCC Rajesh Kannan, a third-generation flower vendor in Coimbatore, told The Federal that the Wayanad disaster has impacted sales for almost a month.
“A kilo of orange and yellow marigold can be sold for Rs 80–100 during the Onam season. But this year, we were forced to sell those at just Rs 20–50, and we did not receive any large orders. Many farmers themselves did not take orders due to the low prices,” he explained.
There is a huge demand for globe amaranth, too, during Onam. The crop was reportedly not even harvested this year due to the lack of enough orders from Kerala.
Flower trade worth Rs 4 crore hit
Recalling last year’s sales, Rajesh said close to 20 tonnes of flowers were sold each day for the five days leading up to Onam. “This year, we sent just 12 tonnes of flowers over three days. Not many agents showed up. Some traders even closed their shops for a week to cut losses,” Rajesh told The Federal.
The Nilakottai flower market in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, another key market for vendors from Kerala, also experienced a downturn. The traders’ association in Nilakottai reported that flower trade worth some Rs 4 crore was affected during Onam this year.
