El Niño Devastates Andhra Pradesh’s Kuppam Flower Belt, Slashing Output by 40%
· India · Bloomberg, The Hindu
El Niño has severely impacted Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh, causing kanakambara flowers to wilt by 8 a.m. and reducing output by 40% compared to last year. Farmers report blooms are smaller, lighter, and fetch significantly lower prices—₹23,000 per acre this year versus ₹58,000 in 2025. The region, a major flower exporter to four cities across three states, faces severe water shortages, with rainfall dropping by 75% in key mandals like Shantipuram and Gudupalle. Munemma, a small farmer, noted the flowers now wilt four weeks earlier than usual, disrupting livelihoods for over 3,000 farmers across 2,000 acres. The crisis underscores broader climate vulnerabilities in agriculture.
Why it matters
The flower industry in Kuppam supports thousands of livelihoods and contributes to Andhra Pradesh’s economy, while the 40% output decline threatens rural incomes and the state’s agricultural exports. Farmers and traders face financial strain as demand remains unchanged but supply plummets.
Read the original report — Bloomberg
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