Livelihoods of smallholder farmers engaged in floriculture in Tamil Nadu

A situation assessment & recommendations

1. Overview:The small-scale production of loose flowers such as jasmine, chrysanthemum, marigold, crossandra, nerium, tuberose and rose isthe main cash crop in the farming system of smallholder farmersin many parts of Tamil Nadu. There are about 32,400 hectares under these crops and production of 4,82,500 MT in 2017-18. Tamil Nadu is the major producer of loose flowers, contributingto about 25 per cent of the national production.

Of the total area, jasmine occupies nearly 39 per cent followed by rose at 22 per cent (see fig for other crops). The primary markets for jasmine, rose and marigold are other states and exports.For the remaining crops,the market is largely within the state and neighboring states in few cases.

On an average, the area under flower cultivation by farmers ranges from 200 sq.m to 4,000 sq.m(0.02 to 0.4 ha) with the area being decided based on the availability of family labour, choice of the crop, and access to irrigation. In a few 

places, wage labour is also engaged, especially women on part-time basis for plucking, either in the early morning or late evening, based on the market and price. Loose flowers are a source of continuous weekly income, making it a prime component in a small farm holder’s cropping system that offers financial resilience to the household.

March to June is the peak flowering season for all the crops. This is except tuberose, which comes to flowering in Aug- Sept and rosethat comes to flowering in two seasons. As soon as the peak flowering season is over, farmers do field management as well as pruning of existing plants to promote fresh growth of branches.

2. COVID-19 measures:The lockdown fromthe evening of March 24, 2020has meant closure of entire flower markets and no procurement from farmers. The entire supply chain is disrupted due to closure of transport as well as lack of demand from public following stoppage of religious functions and restriction on private ceremonies.Jasmine and marigold flowers are also processed for their chemical constituents, but the closure of the processing units has affected demand from that end also. Further, the availability and capacity of these processing units is not sufficient to procure and convert the large volume of production into value added products that can be stored for future trade.All these factors put together has brought both organized and unorganized supply chain for loose flowers to a standstill.

3. Impact:Besides immediate loss of income and employment, there are issues relating to field conditions, plant health and indebtedness:

3.1 Loss of Income and employment: Farmers, largely small holdershave incurred huge loss of incomedue to the disruption in the whole supply chain; this is the peak flowering stage and    also coincides with key festivals during which there is high demand and famers command a higher price.

Table 1 presents an estimation of the productivity (flower yield), price, and possible yield loss, under a 30-day lockdown period, which is also the peak flowering season and monetary loss incurred. 

Table 1: Estimated lossincurred by major loose flower crops during 30 days of Lockdown