The Maharashtra government has decided to implement a ban on artificial flowers, State Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale announced in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The decision came after a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday.
Minister Gogawale stated, "We are committed to supporting our farmers, and this step is essential to safeguard their interests," according to The Indian Express report. The move follows growing concerns among horticulture farmers regarding the impact of synthetic flowers on their livelihood.
Shiv Sena MLA Mahesh Shinde, who raised the issue in the Assembly, recalled an earlier meeting with Minister Gogawale and the Chief Minister, during which Fadnavis had assured that a ban would be imposed. Shinde previously argued that the widespread use of artificial flowers was severely affecting traditional flower growers. "This move will help farmers in a big way," he said on Wednesday.
Minister Gogawale acknowledged that floriculturists across Maharashtra are facing significant financial setbacks due to the influx of cheap, mass-produced artificial flowers. "Despite training programmes in advanced floriculture, greenhouse technology, and post-harvest handling, our farmers are being pushed out of the market by synthetic alternatives," he noted, according to a report.
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