Downpour destroys flower plants in Hossainpur, leaving farmers in disarray

Kolkata: Flower growers of Hossainpur, a village in North 24-Parganas, have been passing through a tough time owing to continuous downpour. The area is known as the ‘Valley of Flowers,’ but this year flowers could not be supplied from this region to nearby cities and neighbouing states because heavy rainfall has destroyed plants. The situation started just before the Lakshmi Puja, when farmers’ sale flowers in large quantity.

Farmers of the village depend heavily on the flower trade, and they earn a good amount during the festival season to run their families the whole year. In this region, marigolds, chrysanthemums, tuberoses, and other flowers are grown in large quantities.  The demand for Hossainpur’s chrysanthemums always remains high across the nation. Unfortunately, this year’s floods have ruined flower fields, causing huge losses.

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“We were hoping for a good harvest, but the rains and floods have ruined everything. Many flowers have rotted, and the customers are rejecting them,” said Jahangir Mallick, a flower farmer. Farmers like Jahangir had invested in seeds and fertilizers, expecting a good season, but instead, they are facing the harsh reality of financial ruin.

Farmers have been facing difficulties since Biswakarma Puja; several farmers didn’t earn enough to maintain their families’ entire year. They mainly earn during the festival season. However, this year crops have been damaged, so there is no hope of recovery left for them.

It is a great disappointment for Hossainpur’s flower industry because tourists used to visit this village due to the attraction of flowers during winter. In fact, uncertainty surrounds the future of the flower growers in the area due to the impact of devastating floods.