Ponnan’s marigold farm was supposed to brim with a gorgeous yellow this season. Pusa Bahar, a variety developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, was blooming well but the recent rain spell has dampened his hopes of a good harvest.
“I had started cultivation on a trial basis targeting the Onam market, but the flowers with weak stems can’t withstand heavy rain. It will be difficult to get a good yield as the flower buds will not open without sunlight,” says the farmer from Chathannur.
Apart from ruining the market prospects, rain has also affected the chance of harvesting the flowers for seed. “We have to wait for the right time to collect the mature seeds and currently there is no possibility of saving some. The petals should be dry when we collect them and we cannot use rain-damaged flowers,” he adds.
