Frost and cold affects flower cultivation in Uttarakhand

Haldwani, Jan 13 (ANI): The intense cold condition prevailing in northern India has taken a toll on flower cultivation in Uttarakhand's Haldwani district.

Exquisite varieties of flowers like carnation, lily, chrysanthemum, gladiolus, gerbera and Indian roses that are in high demand in domestic as well as in European markets, are produced here.

The frost and the fog have caused severe damage to the flowers, much to the chagrin of the flower growers.

Weak stalks and stunted growth are some of the problems witnessed in the plants.

"The fog and the cold which has been prevailing for last 10-15 days have affected the flower cultivation a lot. Lack of sunlight in the polyhouses is causing several deficiencies in the plants, like the spike of the plants grows too long and starts narrowing at the top due to which the flowers get damaged. The size of the flowers also reduces," complained Ravindra Sharma, a flower cultivator.

The flower growers claim to have lost at least 40-50 percent of their produce because of the cold.

The entire northern Indian region has been reeling under intense cold wave, a phenomenon which the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed to western disturbances that caused snowfall in the hill states, and upper regions of Himalayas. (ANI)