Nashik marigold prices nearly doubled in the wholesale market on Monday, a day before Dasara, as a surge in festive demand met reduced production caused by drought and a prolonged dry spell across parts of Maharashtra.
Prices rose to Rs 200-225 for a 4kg crate from Rs 100-125 on Sunday, according to traders and growers. Marigolds are widely used during Dasara to decorate new vehicles and homes, prepare garlands and conduct religious rituals, making the festival a key sales period for farmers who grow the crop specifically for the Dasara and Diwali markets.
The price movement reflects the compressed supply chain behind a seasonal urban market. Nashik’s wholesale flower trade draws production from several parts of the district, where cultivation is concentrated in Chandwad, Sinnar, Dindori and Nashik talukas. Farmers said many growers reduced the area under marigold cultivation this season because of inadequate rainfall and concerns over water availability.
Ajay Malode, a marigold grower from Sinnar taluka, said wholesale prices had been around Rs 100 per crate on Sunday before rising to Rs 200-225 on Monday as demand increased ahead of Dasara. He said prices could rise further on Tuesday because of limited availability in the market.
However, the higher wholesale rate has not restored last year’s earnings for growers. Farmers said prices remained below the levels recorded during the corresponding festive period last year, despite the sharp increase over the previous 24 hours.
Sunil Pendhari, a farmer from Chandwad taluka, said inadequate rainfall and the extended dry spell had adversely affected the crop. He estimated that yields had dropped by nearly 40-50% this year and said the current festive-season prices were still lower than what farmers received during the same period last year.
The figures show how a short festival demand cycle can magnify the effect of weather stress. A reduction in cultivated area and lower yields have limited the quantity reaching the wholesale market just as households and businesses increase purchases for Dasara. For consumers, the immediate effect is higher flower prices; for growers, the increase may still be insufficient to offset production losses.
The market’s next movement will depend on the volume of flowers arriving on Tuesday, when Dasara demand is expected to remain high. Traders and farmers are monitoring availability as the festival buying window reaches its peak.
