While flower prices soar during festive seasons, these periodic profits offer little security to marginal farmers. Changing weather, inadequate transport and storage facilities, and unstable markets continue to impact livelihoods.
"During the wedding season, Diwali, and other festivals, flower farming fetches us up to three to four times more profit compared to the rest of the year, when everything is otherwise dependent on demand," says Rahul, a farmer in Lucknow's Mahilabad area. "If the colours are even a little bit faded, then the price of flowers falls. Flower farming is full of uncertainties."
India is among the world's top flower-producing countries, with lakhs of hectares of agricultural land used to cultivate flowers. According to the National Horticulture Board, more than 85 percent of flower cultivators in India are small and marginal farmers.
In Lucknow, approximately 15,000–18,000 hectares of agricultural land are dedicated to floriculture, with cultivation predominantly done by smallholder farmers. While flower farming is widespread in the region, inadequate infrastructure and market instability pose major challenges for cultivators. As such, while floriculture may be profitable for sellers and traders, many smallholder farmers still struggle to reap similar economic benefits.
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