India’s horticulture and floriculture struggle amid environmental changes

YP Singh

Horticulture plays a significant role in food production, nutrition, and rural employment in India. However, it also presents challenges for the environment and climate. The intensive use of resources like land, water, fertilizers, and pesticides in horticultural production has far-reaching effects on local and global ecosystems. Furthermore, the transportation of horticultural products over long distances, often by air, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate change has a major impact on vegetable production across the country. Many vegetable crops have growth cycle disruptions due to rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, including storms, floods, and droughts. Elevated temperatures can potentially diminish the output of heat-sensitive plants such as broccoli, spinach, and lettuce. Drought strains plants, lowering growth and quality, while too much water can lead to root infections.
Changes in growing seasons and the availability of water resources force farmers to adjust by altering crop varieties or planting times. Vegetables are susceptible to fluctuations in temperature and water availability, which affect their nutritional content. Prolonged exposure to harsh circumstances can deplete nutrient content, lowering food quality. Overall, climate change’s influence on vegetables is causing increased concern about global food security, farmer livelihoods, and consumer nutrition. Sustainable methods are critical for mitigating these difficulties.

Environmental Impact
The concentrated use of resources in horticulture can degrade the local environment. Pesticides and fertilizers used excessively can pollute soil and water, harming biodiversity. Intensive water usage often leads to depletion of groundwater levels, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Moreover, the welfare of workers in horticultural industries is sometimes overlooked, with laborers often exposed to harmful chemicals and unsafe working conditions.
The transportation of horticultural products over long distances, particularly through air freight, significantly contributes to carbon emissions. For instance, exporting cut flowers from Kenya to Europe results in considerable environmental cost. Addressing these concerns requires global collaboration and the adoption of more sustainable practices.

To counteract the negative effects of intensive horticulture, several strategies and technologies are being employed:
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): These assessments help evaluate the potential effects of horticultural projects on the environment.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): This method analyzes the environmental impact of horticultural products from production to disposal.
Legislation and Standards: Policies like GLOBALGAP ensure that environmental standards are integrated into horticultural practices.
Greenhouse Technologies: Modern greenhouses reduce water and fertilizer use while protecting crops from pests and extreme weather.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): This approach minimizes pesticide use by combining biological, cultural, and mechanical pest control methods.
India’s diverse climate provides a unique opportunity for growing a wide range of horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants. Currently, horticulture covers around 23.2 million hectares in India, with an annual production of approximately 305 million tonnes. The sector significantly contributes to rural employment and improves the income of farmers.
Horticultural crops also play a vital role in nutrition. Rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and carbohydrates, they are essential for a healthy diet. These crops are often referred to as “protective foods” due to their importance in maintaining nutritional security.
However, the impact of climate change poses serious challenges for Indian horticulture. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increasing soil salinity are some of the key issues. For instance, coastal regions are experiencing faster seawater intrusion into freshwater resources, leading to salinity problems that threaten crop production.

Climate Change and Its Effects
Climate change is predicted to increase global temperatures by 1.4°C to 5.8°C and significantly alter rainfall patterns. These changes have direct and indirect effects on horticultural crops.
Shifting Cultivation Areas: As temperatures rise, areas currently suitable for specific crops may become unsuitable, while new areas may emerge as viable for cultivation.
Early Maturation of Crops: Crops like citrus, grapes, and melons are maturing earlier due to higher temperatures, affecting their quality and market value.
Pollination Problems: Increased temperatures can lead to flower abortions, fruit drop, and reduced pollination rates in crops like tomatoes and apples.
Reduced Chilling Periods: Temperate fruits like apples and cherries require specific chilling durations, which are now decreasing due to warming winters.
Water stress: decreased rainfall and increased evaporation are leading to severe water scarcity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
Impact on Fruit and Vegetable Crops in India
India is the world’s second-largest producer of fruits, with crops like mango, banana, guava, and apple forming a significant part of the economy. However, climate change is already impacting their production.
Bananas: High temperatures and irregular rainfall are causing soil moisture stress, leading to reduced yields.
Apples: Rising temperatures are causing sunburn and cracking, while reduced chilling periods are affecting flowering and fruiting cycles.
Tomatoes and Crucifers: High temperatures are resulting in reduced quality, with issues like tip burn and blossom-end rot becoming more common.

Challenges of Spice Cultivation
A study conducted at the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Calicut, revealed that many areas currently suitable for spice cultivation may become unsuitable within the next 25 years due to climate change. Conversely, areas currently unsuitable may become viable. This highlights the need for advance planning and the development of climate-resilient crop varieties. Strategies for Adaptation and Sustainability To address the challenges posed by climate change, the horticulture industry must adopt advanced technologies. Management practices: Hi-Tech Horticulture: This includes using drip irrigation, protected cultivation, and precision farming techniques to optimize resource use and improve yields.
Climate-Resilient Varieties: Developing crops that can withstand heat, drought, and salinity is crucial for sustainable horticulture.
Integrated Water Management: Efficient irrigation systems like drip and sprinkler irrigation can reduce water wastage.
Soil Conservation: Practices like mulching, crop rotation, and organic farming help maintain soil fertility and reduce erosion.

Policy and Research
Government policies and research institutions play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of climate change on horticulture. For instance, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is working on developing climate-resilient crop varieties and promoting sustainable farming practices. Additionally, public-private partnerships can help in adopting advanced technologies and creating awareness among farmers.
Horticulture is an integral part of India’s economy and plays a crucial role in ensuring food and nutritional security. However, the challenges posed by climate change require immediate attention and collective action. By adopting sustainable practices, leveraging modern technologies, and investing in research, the horticulture sector can not only overcome these challenges but also continue to thrive in the future.
Addressing climate change is not just about sustaining production; it is about ensuring the health and happiness of people dependent on horticulture for their livelihood and nutrition. The journey toward a sustainable horticulture industry is challenging but achievable with the right strategies and determination.

Floriculture and Environment
In spite of an abundant and varied production base, India’s export of floricultural products is not encouraging. The low performance is attributed to many constraints, like the non-availability of airspace in major airlines. The Indian floriculture industry is facing a number of challenges mainly related to trade environment, infrastructure, and marketing issues such as high import tariffs, low availability of perishable carriers, higher freight rates, and inadequate refrigerated and transport facilities.
At the production level, the industry is faced with challenges mostly related to the availability of basic inputs, including quality seeds and planting materials, an efficient irrigation system, and skilled manpower. In order to overcome these problems, steps must be taken to reduce import duty on planting material and equipment, reduce airfreight to a reasonable level, provide sufficient cargo space in major airlines, and establish model nurseries for supplying genuine planting material. Training centers should be established for training the personnel in floriculture and allied areas. Exporters should plan and monitor effective quality control measures right from production to post-harvesting, storage, and transportation.
Flowers hold a special place in Indian culture, used in rituals, celebrations, and festivals. But in recent years, climate change has deeply affected the lives of these vendors and the farmers who grow these blooms. Erratic weather conditions, such as unexpected rains and rising heat, are damaging crops, reducing flower quality, and causing financial losses for both farmers and vendors.
Monsoons are traditionally the season of abundance for flower sellers. But Deepa explains how excessive rain in recent years has shortened the life span of flowers. Where fresh flowers used to last for two to three days, now they barely survive a day due to prolonged exposure to water. This forces vendors to reduce the number of flower bundles they purchase. “Earlier, we would buy around 100 bundles of flowers during the monsoon season, but now we can only afford to buy 40 to 50,” Deepa says.
The decline in flower quality also affects prices. A bunch of roses that would sell for ₹80 during normal weather is now sold for as little as Rs 30 during the monsoon, causing a significant loss of income for vendors.
In 2023, Mumbai experienced one of its most erratic monsoons. The city received around 3,000 mm of rainfall, much higher than the annual average of 2,318 mm. The rains were intense and unevenly distributed, with 90% of June’s average rainfall pouring down in just five days. July witnessed over 1,550 mm of rain, surpassing the infamous deluge of July 2005.

Global and Local Climate Changes
The challenges faced by flower vendors in India are part of a larger global issue. A study in Northern Europe predicted that warmer and wetter conditions caused by climate change would lead to a steep decline in the availability of wildflowers. Similarly, in India, unseasonal rains and rising temperatures have impacted various plants. For instance, Uttarakhand’s state tree, the buransh, blossomed earlier than usual in 2023, a clear sign of climate disruption.
For flower vendors, this means they often have to buy everything the farmers supply, even if the flowers are damaged. This arrangement puts them at a disadvantage, as they are forced to sell subpar flowers at reduced prices, leading to losses.
The challenges don’t end with the rain. Summers have also become harsher. In 2023, India recorded its warmest February and driest August since 1901. In April, several regions of the country experienced a heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 39 degrees Celsius.
Flowers, which are 75% moisture, are particularly vulnerable to heat stress. Extreme temperatures can cause flowers to wilt, their stems to weaken, and their quality to deteriorate. Horticulturist Anjana Dewasthale explains that many farmers now grow flowers in controlled environments, such as poly-houses, where factors like temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels are regulated.
Research supports these observations. High temperatures not only reduce the size and lifespan of flowers but also dull their colors, weaken their fragrances, and make them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
The struggles of flower vendors are compounded by shifting consumer preferences. Many people are now opting for artificial flowers over natural ones, particularly for longer festivals like Ganpati. Artificial flowers last longer, are more affordable, and save time.

Mrunali, a consumer, explains, “We only buy natural flowers for special events. For longer festivals, we prefer artificial flowers because they don’t wilt and save us the hassle of redecorating.”

While convenient for consumers, this trend spells trouble for vendors like Rohit Dhura, who has been selling flowers in Dadar Market for six years. “People are busy with work and find artificial flowers more practical. But this shift is hurting farmers and vendors like us,” he says.
Artificial flowers, often made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, also pose an environmental challenge. Their disposal contributes to pollution, as recycling options are limited. In contrast, discarded natural flowers, though biodegradable, create waste management issues due to improper disposal.
The cost of natural flowers has increased significantly over the past decade due to rising expenses for inputs, labor, and transportation. Climate change has further exacerbated these costs. Dhura explains how foggy conditions in winter hinder flower blooming, reducing production from an expected 50 carats (boxes) to just 20. This shortfall drives up prices, prompting consumers to choose artificial flowers, leading to losses for vendors.

Solutions for Sustainability
To combat the challenges posed by climate change, many floriculturists are turning to controlled environments for flower cultivation. Polyhouses, for example, can protect flowers from extreme weather and ensure better quality.
Additionally, efforts to raise awareness about the environmental impact of artificial flowers could help consumers make more sustainable choices. Promoting eco-friendly alternatives, such as compostable natural decorations, might reduce the demand for plastic-based flowers.
For vendors, the road ahead remains uncertain. While they continue to adapt to changing weather and consumer preferences, they hope for greater support from authorities and the community to keep their livelihoods afloat.
Flowers have long been a symbol of beauty and tradition in India, but the combined effects of climate change and changing consumer habits are putting the floriculture industry at risk. From erratic rains and extreme heat to rising costs and reduced demand for fresh flowers, vendors and farmers face numerous challenges.
The rest of India grapples with these issues; it is essential to support sustainable practices and make conscious choices to preserve the traditions and livelihoods that flowers represent. The resilience of vendors reflects their determination, but they need collective efforts to ensure a thriving future for India’s floriculture industry.
Climate change significantly impacts flowering plants, particularly in commercial production under open-field conditions. Excessive heat, cold, continuous or unpredictable rainfall, and storm damage disrupt flower production during the blooming period. Indigenous species in natural habitats may struggle to proliferate and face threats from unfavorable agro-climatic conditions.

Unseasonal monsoons can deprive the western hilly regions and their surroundings of normal precipitation, adversely affecting species that require high humidity and water.
Plain regions are also affected by either drought or floods and abrupt seasonal variations. Drastic changes in climate can lead to the onset of new diseases, pests, or even altered resistance to existing pathogens, resulting in low production or poor-quality flowers.
Drought poses a significant challenge in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall, leading to petal loss and faded colors in blooming flowers. The production of floriculture under open cultivation is primarily affected by these factors.
Diseases, pests, nematodes, and other crop challenges coexist in the cropping environment, consistently threatening successful cultivation and post-harvest handling. The changing climate scenario has increased the incidence of soil-borne pathogens, viral and phytoplasmal infections, nematodes, foliage and flower pests, and the re-emergence of once-controlled pests and pathogens. These factors collectively impact both the quantity and quality of flower production.