Flower farmers in Kuppam hit by poor demand, supply crisis

The Hindu

08-08-2025

The floriculture farmers of the tri-State Kuppam junction in Chittoor district are worried due to the worsening demand and supply situation over plummeting yield this year. The area known for its cool climate and mist-covered hillocks offers the most congenial climate for a variety of flowers including marigold, chrysanthemum, jasmine, firecracker (Kanakambaram), and tuberose.
Farmers want to improve the yield as the demand for flowers is high during the festive season which has begun, with Varalakshmi Vratham celebrations on every Friday till the month-end, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Bathukamma in Telangana (September last week), Dasara, Navaratri, Deepawali, and Ayyappa Mala Deeksha months (October-December).
At the Kuppam flower market, the price of Kanakambaram stood at ₹3,000 a kg on Friday (August 8, 2025) but is double the price in the open markets across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring States. However, due to no buyers of the variety, the farmers were forced to discard the produce.
Marigold's wholesale price remained ₹120 a kg at the Kuppam market, but it is ₹400 in the open markets, while jasmine has touched ₹800-₹1,000 a kg and is double the price in the open markets.
The prices of flowers meant for temple offerings soared 40%–60% in the first week of this month (August, 2025) due to a storm of high demand and negligible supply.
Rajam Muthu, a trader from Kuppam, said that bulk orders from Tamil Nadu and Kerala are leading to further shortage locally.
Explaining what affected the crop, Ramachandra, chrysanthemum farmer from Ramakuppam mandal, said that from March onwards, the yield started slipping drastically all over the Kuppam region. 'Deficit to nil rainfall and hot spells in April, May, and June had badly affected the crop. Even though various flowers like marigolds could withstand the heat. It is only from mid-July onward that the flower fields were looking bright,' he added.
Despite the crisis, the reputation of the Kuppam region, including V. Kota (now in Palamaner division), Ramakuppam, Shantipuram, Gudupalle, and Kuppam mandals, did not lose its sway as trucks carrying loads of colourful flowers left for wholesale markets, as far as Bengaluru and Chennai, at dusk everyday.
The absence of cold storage facilities in Kuppam forced many farmers to dispose of the harvested yield to buyers at low prices. 'We race against the time before the flowers start wilting,' said Kanjuramma, a woman farmer in Ramakuppam.
The flower farmers and traders who are in a dilemma said, 'We expect some respite in the next fifteen days, and the harvest might be considerably good, though not sufficient from October onwards.'