Uttarakhand: Flower Trade Wilts Under Lockdown
Not only have several businesses been ruined due to the lockdown imposed on account of the coronavirus, but it has directly affected those people who were engaged in seasonal businesses.
Usually, hundreds of weddings take place between the months of April and June but this year, the entire season has been decimated amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Flower trade and floriculture takes place on a large scale in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani but this year, several functions, including weddings, have been affected due to social distancing. This has had a huge effect on the flower trade. From Haldwani, flowers were supplied to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and several other states but flower traders are a worried lot now since their business has come to a standstill. They also have no idea about how the next season will be. Flower traders say that due to the lockdown, they are not getting any bookings for religious rituals, naming/christening ceremonies, birthdays and weddings. Gerbera and gladioli flowers are rotting away. Around 7,000 gerbera flowers have been planted in about 1,000 square feet. In one month, around gerbera 21,000 flowers were supplied for religious events, weddings and other auspicious ceremonies. These flowers used to be supplied around thrice every month. But in the season from April to present day, every flower trader has incurred a loss of around Rs 10-12 lakh. One gerbera flower costs Rs 20-25 in the market. From this, it can be gauged that the flower trade has fallen flat due to the coronavirus and the lockdown. Gerbera flowers of around 11 different colours are getting spoiled continuously. Flower traders are plucking these flowers daily and distributing them free of cost among villagers and people from nearby areas. Flower traders are apprehensive about earning their livelihood if the lockdown continues. There are several flower traders in Haldwani and surrounding areas who are on the brink of bankruptcy due to the coronavirus. Watch the video story here:
Flower trade and floriculture takes place on a large scale in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani but this year, several functions, including weddings, have been affected due to social distancing. This has had a huge effect on the flower trade. From Haldwani, flowers were supplied to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and several other states but flower traders are a worried lot now since their business has come to a standstill. They also have no idea about how the next season will be. Flower traders say that due to the lockdown, they are not getting any bookings for religious rituals, naming/christening ceremonies, birthdays and weddings. Gerbera and gladioli flowers are rotting away. Around 7,000 gerbera flowers have been planted in about 1,000 square feet. In one month, around gerbera 21,000 flowers were supplied for religious events, weddings and other auspicious ceremonies. These flowers used to be supplied around thrice every month. But in the season from April to present day, every flower trader has incurred a loss of around Rs 10-12 lakh. One gerbera flower costs Rs 20-25 in the market. From this, it can be gauged that the flower trade has fallen flat due to the coronavirus and the lockdown. Gerbera flowers of around 11 different colours are getting spoiled continuously. Flower traders are plucking these flowers daily and distributing them free of cost among villagers and people from nearby areas. Flower traders are apprehensive about earning their livelihood if the lockdown continues. There are several flower traders in Haldwani and surrounding areas who are on the brink of bankruptcy due to the coronavirus. Watch the video story here:
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