As Valentine's Day week fuels demand for flowers, florists across the city say soaring wholesale prices and shifting market dynamics have pushed their businesses into losses instead of profits.
Rajesh Gaikwad, a florist who has been selling flowers on J.M. Road for over three decades, said he has "never seen such a terrible market".
Gaikwad attributed the sharp price rise to increased exports of flowers to cities such as Hyderabad and Ahmedabad and to markets in Gujarat, which, he said, has created a shortage locally. "Big players who have entered this industry are not affected by the costs, but small vendors like us are struggling," he added. The rise of online flower sales and promotional offers by malls — some of which provide free roses on purchases — have further hurt traditional florists, he said.
Comparing the situation with last year, Shubham noted that there has been nearly a 20 per cent increase in both supply and pricing. However, he believes unpredictable weather conditions could be a major factor affecting production. "Weather has played a role in reducing supply. It's not just roses — even lily supply has gone down this season," he added.
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