PANAJI
Goa’s marigold production rose by an estimated 240 tonnes this year to 720 tonnes, but the bumper harvest brought little cheer to local growers as low-priced flowers from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu flooded the market during Dussehra. This reportedly left several local marigold farmers and vendors struggling to sell their stock.
The glut was particularly visible in rural markets, where marigold prices fell from Rs 100 per kg to Rs 70 and, in some instances, as low as Rs 20-10 per kg by Dussehra evening.
With large quantities imported from other states remaining unsold and dumped after the festival, the local vendors claimed they struggled to earn their part of income from flower sales.
“Trucks of marigolds were brought to Goa from Karnataka and other places. But now see, the unsold flowers are being thrown everywhere,” Padmavati Gawas, flower vendor, said, pointing to the unsold flowers discarded after the festival.
Another vendor from Bicholim, Reshma Mayenkar, said traders from outside Goa had brought in huge quantities of marigold and sold them right next to local vendors.
She said the outside traders were able to bring in large stocks to capitalise on the festival demand, but the excess was eventually dumped in market areas when sales failed to match the supply.
Cheaper out-of-state flowers squeezed local growers
The influx of flowers from Belagavi, Hubballi and other parts of Karnataka, as well as Tamil Nadu, increased competition during the crucial days before Dussehra till Tuesday. Official sources conceded that the lower prices of flowers brought from outside Goa attracted buyers, leaving local growers struggling to find a market for their produce despite the increase in output.
“Many local marigold growers found themselves competing with flowers brought into Goa from other states... However, Goa government’s support to local marigold vendors will continue,” the source said.
'Marigold output jumped, Goa trying to meet demand'
Agriculture Director Chandrahas Desai said marigold cultivation in Goa has expanded from five hectares to 120-125 hectares, with an average yield of six tonnes per hectare. However, he conceded that the State is yet to meet its total demand, leaving room for flowers brought in from other states.
Regarding the total production this year, he claimed the State does not maintain a consolidated estimate.
“Now the production of marigold is slowly increasing. It started from 5 ha and now reached to 120-125 ha. With increase in demand, there is some shortage undoubtedly,” he said.
Desai said marigold has demand throughout the year, with a sharp rise during the month-long festive period from Navratri to Tulsi Vivah, which includes Dussehra and Diwali.
“Marigold is doing good and it has all round the year demand particularly on Dussehra to Diwali. This one full month from Navratri to Tulsi Vivah, marigold is used for all pujas,” he said.
The growing demand for marigold has encouraged more farmers to take up cultivation, although local production, in the present circumstances, is insufficient to meet consumption.
Israeli tech boosts local production, seedling production planned
The Agriculture department's adoption to modern growing technology developed through the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence at Codar in Ponda helped boost production, and distributed four lakh seedlings as part of its efforts to support cultivation.
The department is also looking to reduce dependence on other states for planting material, in order to support local cultivation of vegetables and flowers in the coming years.
“Until now, the Agriculture Department procured seedlings required for cultivating various vegetables and flowers from Maharashtra, Karnataka and other states. From this year, it has decided to distribute seedlings grown in laboratories in Goa to local farmers. This will certainly boost the production of vegetables and various types of flowers in the coming years,” another senior officer said.
