Water crisis in Pushkar

Water crisis hits rose floriculturists of Pushkar

Pushkar (Rajasthan): Water scarcity has taken its toll on rose cultivation and allied small-scale industries processing rose products at Pushkar in Rajasthan. With 80 percent of its land under rose cultivation, Pushkar has carved out a name for itself for indigenous varieties of roses. It is one of the highest producers of roses and also the rose-based products such as Gulkand (sweet rose preserve), rose water and dried rose petals. According to farmers who have taken up rose cultivation, over the past two years the ground water level in the region has dipped five times, from 50 feet to almost 300 feet, due to inadequate rains. Further, as if to add to more of woes, the farmers have not been able to draw and pump the water due to meager supply of electricity. "The farming is being adversely affected. The plants are drying. The plants are not setting properly for the roses to grow. There is a lot of problem due to water," said Subhash, a rose floriculturist. The sharp decline in the production of roses has become a matter of concern as farmers and manufacturers are facing losses. If the rains are good this year, the crop may be good but if it remains like last year, by January-February the crop will be bad. The plants are drying in the fields," said Premdas, spokesperson, Rose Growers Association, Pushkar. The annual rose exports have plummeted from 700 tones to around 400 tones, while the market has come down from rupees 100 million to rupees 40 million. The farmers want that the government must formulate an irrigation policy catering to the needs of the farmers in the area.
-June 23, 2009

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