A sudden collapse in domestic air travel has choked the supply chain that brings flowers from southern states, mainly Karnataka, to Kolkata, leaving the city's bustling wedding season scrambling for fresh blooms. With local production hit by heavy rainfall, florists and event planners are struggling to meet soaring demand.
West Bengal is India's third-largest flower producer, after Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, growing over 10,000 tonnes a year. Mullick Ghat, the biggest flower market in the state, is the hub from where flowers are sent out to various corners of the country and even to foreign shores. However, every wedding season, large quantities of roses, gypsophila, carnations, gerbera, orchids, and lilies are flown in from Karnataka and other southern states to meet the high seasonal demand in Kolkata and adjoining areas.
"The prices of flowers have shot up due to supply chain disruptions during the ongoing domestic air travel crisis. The prices have more than doubled in the domestic market as the demand is very high due to the wedding season," said Sheikh Rajesh, a wholesaler at the Mullick Ghat flower market.
Local marigold and rajnigandha farmers are also struggling. Excessive rainfall earlier this year reduced output, leaving fewer options for buyers who normally depend on regional production. The price of these varieties too has more than doubled.
Read more at Times of India
