Marigold prices rose in Pune’s Gultekdi Market Yard as consumers, retailers and garland makers crowded the flower market ahead of Dussehra, with traders reporting strong demand for orange and yellow varieties and other festive flowers.
The market saw a major influx of buyers from early Sunday morning before Dussehra on Tuesday, October 20. Flower consignments began arriving from Saturday night from Beed, Parbhani, Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, Satara, Sangli and other parts of Maharashtra.
Retailers and buyers from the Konkan region, Panvel, Kolhapur, Pune district and surrounding suburbs also visited the market. Marigold, gulchhadi, chrysanthemum and aster were among the flowers in highest demand, turning the market’s trading areas predominantly orange and yellow.
Wholesale marigold prices ranged between Rs 40 and Rs 70 per kg, while retail buyers paid between Rs 80 and Rs 120 per kg, according to the report. Gulchhadi was priced at Rs 200-300 per kg, while aster sold for Rs 350-400 per kg. Jasmine and juhi were significantly more expensive, with prices ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 per kg.
The price movement was linked to the importance of marigold flowers and apta leaves in Dussehra observances. However, traders and farmers said the supply chain was also being affected by weak rainfall and heat in parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha. Reduced water availability had affected marigold production and flower quality, increasing the proportion of damaged produce reaching the market.
Farmers said the quality deterioration was limiting the prices they could receive despite festive demand. Machhindra Bhosale, a farmer from Majalgaon in Beed district, said he had cultivated orange and yellow marigold on three acres. Although the price received this year was satisfactory, he said the loss in production had affected the overall return. He added that transporting damaged flowers to Pune from about 350 kilometres away was not economically viable.
Appa Gaikwad, president of the Phoolbazar Adte and Traders Association in Pune, said the market had seen a large turnout of outstation buyers and expected arrivals and purchases to increase over the following two days. The expected increase in supply could influence availability across Pune’s retail markets during the remaining Dussehra shopping period.
The market’s activity highlights the dependence of Pune’s festival retail network on flower-growing regions across Maharashtra. Produce moves from farms to the Gultekdi wholesale market before reaching neighbourhood vendors, garland makers and households. In this chain, weather conditions in distant districts can affect both the quality available in the city and the prices paid by consumers.
Traders and farmers will continue to monitor arrivals, quality and demand through the Dussehra period. The next two days are expected to bring the highest level of buying activity at the market.
