Orange cempasúchil flowers, vital for Mexico's Day of the Dead, face threats from drought and rising costs, impacting producers in key regions.
Orange flowers face drought challenges
The orange flowers used to decorate Mexican altars for the Day of the Dead are facing threats as producers of cempasúchil, known as "gulmohar" in French, deal with a wave of drought. This issue is particularly pronounced in the states of Chiapas, Campeche, Veracruz, and Coahuila.Planting schedule disrupted
According to El Heraldo de Chiapas, planting of cempasúchil typically begins at the end of July, and the plants require high humidity during August to September to bloom in October, just before the celebrations. However, the lack of rain recorded this year in several Mexican states has disrupted the process and reduced the number of available flowers, notes the local newspaper.High costs add to difficulties
This drought is compounded by particularly high production costs, especially for irrigation, seeds, and labor, as lamented by the producers. Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, a producer based in Chiapas, points out that yields are not keeping up with the rise in production costs.Flower sales remain vital
The sale of cempasúchil remains a source of income despite these challenges.
