By Archana Shama

Jaipur, Apr 4 (IANS): Floriculturists and flower traders in Rajasthan have been stuck in a difficult situation with the bloom left to die in fields due to the nationwide lockdown, announced to contain COVID-19 infection.

"During the navratri festival and Ram Navami, Jaipur witnesses flower business worth Rs 8-10 lakh a day. The wedding season in April comes as a big bonanza," said Gopal Lal Saini of Jaipur, whose family has been doing this business for generations.

"Due to the lockdown, farmers are not plucking flowers, like rose, marigold and jasmine. They have been left to die in fields," he told IANS.

In and around Jaipur, around 30,000 families are dependent upon the flower trade for their livelihood. But due to lockdown, the entire season had been lost, he said and wondered about the fate of flower growers and traders in other parts of the state.

Said K.C. Meena, who runs Meena Flower shop here, the coronavirus crisis had caused losses worth crores of rupees for flower growers and traders. "We used to witness huge business during the nine days of navratri. But this year, we had zero business," he said.

"We incurred around Rs 5 crore loss during navratri. The evaluation of losses due to cancellation of weddings is yet to be made," Meena said.

The Rajasthan capital has over 5,000 flower shops and 144 registered traders. Phool Mandi Vyapar Sangh president Chhuttan Saini said apart from them 1,100 families were dependent on flower sale for their livelihood. "These families are suffering hugely due to the current crisis," Saini said.