Where a thousand lilies bloom

The hot humid climate in the region coupled with medium black soil is conducive to lily growth. In summer, a hectare yields about 15,000 lilies. In winter the figure droops to 1,000. One bulb continues to yield flowers for six years. According to Vyas, in summer the farmer earns Rs 80 per 1,000 flowers and unlike the sugarcane crop, lilies ensure almost daily returns.

While the farmers are content with the immediate cash flow that the booming wedding and festival market in metros gets them, transportation is the only hitch in this otherwise smooth ride. The blooms have a shelf life of about 12 hours and so need to be transported quickly to the cities. At Navsari Railway station, the Gujarat Express train to Mumbai had become synonymous with lily farmers’ parcel. But not since the railway ministry announced a decision that prevents luggage booking at stations with less than 5 minute stops. For 200 odd lily farmers like Sudhir Patel an unfortunate decision, as Navsari too is one such rail stop.

‘‘We have to now opt for luggage booking which costs us Rs 70 per day in ticket purchase, and the road option becomes too costly for small farmers like us,’’ says Patel. Vyas and a delegation of lily farmers have taken their transport problems to local MPs to the railway board, authorities in Mumbai as well as the railway minister. Despite the transport hitch, the lily remains the farmer’s favoured crop because of its quick cash returns.