Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Mar 9: There was a time when the mention of Hemmady, a village located on national highway towards Bhatkal from the town, brought to the mind the memory of fragrant and colourful chrysanthemums (sevantige) traditionally cultivated there. Hemmady has been home for deep yellow chrysanthemum flowers that are endowed with a unique fragrance and lovely shape.

The cultivation of such chrysanthemums, for which the area has been known since centuries, appears to be on the threshold of slinking into the oblivion, thanks to the advent of hybrid varieties in markets.

Just like the 'Mattu Gulla' (uniquely tasty brinjals) grown in and around Mattu, a village near Katapady, chrysanthemums of Hemmady have ruled the flower markets because of their unique and outstanding qualities. The profession of cultivating this flower has been inherted by many families in the region since generations. A large number of families entirely depend on income derived from this cultivation, which they have slightly modified over the centuries to suit present day demands.

In agricultural fields meant for chrysanthemum cultivation, paddy is not grown during the kharif season. Chrysanthemum stems, which are readied in advances, are planted in the fields during October. Thereafter, watering, weeding, and other processes connected with upkeep and safeguarding of the plants are followed. By the end of December, fully bloomed flowers are ready for harvesting. The flowers are plucked everyday and garlands are made by using yarn, before sending the flowers off to the markets.

The sevantige flowers grown in around Hemmady have a unique relationship with religious beliefs. This area has more Daivasthanas dedicated to spirits than temples. These flowers are always have an inseparable presence in religious procedures like Genda, Dhakkebali, and Brahmamandala.In the past, flowers from far off markets like Bengaluru were not available in the coast. Hemmady chrysanthemums rules the markets in the past, and in most cases, the religious centres contacted flower growers in advance and booked their flowers for certain important festivals and festivities. Therefore, the growers themselves directly sold their flowers to the needy. In Hemmady,the procedure of making closely knit garlands andn putting up them for sale near religious centres are more popular than the procedure of making garlands with gaps between flowers.

The famous Makara Sankramana festivala at Marnakatte in the taluk has always had a divine relationship with Hemmady sevantige. The devotees attach special significance to the amount of chrysanthemums they offer to this temple on Makara Sankramana day. During annual festivals at Daivasthanas, devotees vie with each other to garland the Daiva Patri after Dakkebali, Mandala Seve etc. Thousands also offer flower garlands to the presiding deity and get a sense of fulfillment. Because of immense demand, chrysanthemum garlands used to command high prices in the past. During the three months from December to February, flower growers were very busy selling their flowers at very good prices. They used to get a lion share of their annual income during this season.

Therefore, a large number of people resorted to floriculture, and till about a decade ago, anyone visiting Hemmady and surrounding places would come across yellow, carpet-like fields. Those passing through the highway used to feast their eyes with flowery fields right from Jalady village onwards. The cultivation of this flower provided good income to the growers, and they were financially well off.

All this glory is a thing of the past now. The flooding of the markets with hybrid flowers had made the prospects of Hemmady sevantige bleak. As a result, the area in which this flower is being grown has gradually reduced, and there is apprehension and in a matter of two to three years, chrysanthemum cultivation may disappear from in and around Hemmady village.

Now, hybrid variety of chrysanthemums grown in Chikballapur, Doddaballapur, Hassan, and outside the state have been directly entering market all over the state including the taluk. With the use of chemicals, these flowers come with bigger sizes and lesser prices. This has directly sounded deathknell for Hammady sevantige.

The farmers of Hemmady follow traditional methods of cultivation. As they have not made up their minds to resort to modern methods of cultivation, they have been unable to compete with hybrid flowers. As even small markets are getting hybrid flowers, these small scale floriculurists find it hard to thrive. This year around, the area covered by sevantige cultivation has come down drastically as compared to last year.

Another aspect that has choked this sector is apathy of departments concerned. On account of their negligence, Hemmady sevantige is moving towards becoming a thing of the past. At a time when 'Mattu Gulla' succeeded in securing a patent after a long-drawn struggle, Hemmady sevantige is struggling to stay afloat. Those who are expected to make efforts to conserve this rare variety of chrysanthemum unique to the taluk have failed to come to the rescue of the flower growers of Hemmady. As such, rural farmers, who lack knowledge about how to make this cultivation profitable again, are letting go of flower cultivation.

Many farmers say that because of dwindling demand, they did not harvest flowers from several of their fields. Because of marketing bottlenecks, they say they are disheartened. Increasing cost of labour, fertilizers, and maintenance costs have discouraged them from continuing with this crop, traditional farmers claim. All of them are discouraged by the fact that they are not getting any guidance support or encouragement for this rare kind of chrysanthemum cultivation.