In an unusual twist this festive season, city’s wholesale flower market is witnessing a sharp dive in prices on Dussehra - a festival traditionally characterised by skyrocketing demand and soaring rates. A massive influx of supply coupled with sluggish consumer demand has left local florists and regional farmers grappling with unexpected losses. At the bustling Netaji Flower Market in Sitabuldi, the city’s primary wholesale hub, over 70 vehicles loaded with fresh blooms arrived early Monday morning. Bumper harvests from farms across Nagpur and adjoining districts led to an oversupply of festival staples like Marigold (Zendu), Chrysanthemum (Shewanti), and Roses. However, the anticipated festive surge in buying failed to materialise.

 

The stark contrast with previous season figures highlights the severity of the price crash. Last year, overwhelming consumer demand drove wholesale marigold prices to between Rs 80 and Rs 120 per kg. Today, the same variety is struggling to cross Rs 30 per kg. In addition, Chrysanthemum (Shewanti) prices plunged to Rs 100–Rs 200 per kg, down sharply from Rs 300 – Rs 400 per kg recorded last season while roses were sold on Monday at Rs 200–Rs 300 per kg, compared to Rs 300–Rs 400 per kg during the previous festive period. Encouraged by high returns during last year’s festive rush, a larger number of regional farmers expanded flower cultivation this year. The resulting bumper yield created a heavy market glut just as consumer appetite weakened, ruining expectations of lucrative profits. Jaywant Ranaware, a prominent wholesale florist at Sitabuldi market, expressed concern over the severe impact on growers. “This level of market uncertainty is giving extremely tough times to many farmers who invested heavily hoping for good seasonal returns,” Ranware said. With Dussehra yielding disappointing revenues, growers and traders now pin their remaining hopes on the upcoming Diwali celebrations to recover input costs.