Kuppam’s flowers now wilt by 8 a.m.: El Niño scorches Andhra’s flower basket, cuts output by 40%
Farmers in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, say the lingering heat from an early March El Niño has pushed flower blooming four weeks later than usual, producing smaller, lighter blossoms. Production has fallen about 40%, and market prices have dropped sharply, with a half‑acre that sold for ₹58,000 last August now fetching roughly ₹23,000. The region’s flower output faces severe strain.