El Niño heat wilts Andhra Pradesh flower production by 40 percent

The flower growing region of Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh is reeling under the impact of persistent heat conditions that have slashed agricultural output by nearly 40 percent this season. What would normally be peak harvest months has instead become a time of crisis for cultivators, with blooms withering by early morning hours due to soaring temperatures.

The unseasonable heat that arrived in March has shown no signs of abating even as September progresses, creating unprecedented challenges for the region's horticultural sector. Growers report that flowering has been delayed by approximately four weeks compared to normal seasonal patterns, while the blooms that do appear are noticeably smaller and lighter than typical yields.

The financial impact on farmers has been severe. A half-acre plot that generated ₹58,000 in revenue during August of the previous year now fetches only ₹23,000, representing a loss of nearly 60 percent in earnings for individual cultivators. The declining output and reduced quality have compounded losses across the flower belt, affecting both large and small-scale growers who depend on consistent production cycles.

Agricultural experts attribute the prolonged heat stress to El Niño weather patterns affecting the broader South Asian region. The combination of elevated temperatures and irregular moisture availability has disrupted the delicate conditions required for optimal flower cultivation, forcing farmers to implement emergency cooling measures and adjust irrigation schedules to cope with the exceptional climatic stress.