News » 15.09.2026 - Drought hammers marigold growers in Chiapas ahead of key season

A lack of rainfall is hitting marigold (cempasúchil) production in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, where some growers have cut their planted area, turned to irrigation, or abandoned their crops altogether due to poor profitability, according to a report by Quadratín Chiapas.

Edipaciente Mendoza Urbina, a grower in the area, said this year's drought has been particularly severe. He planted 16 rows of 100 meters on his plot, whereas in previous seasons he would harvest between 400 and 500 bundles of flower. He expects output to be considerably lower this cycle.

"The drought has been severe," Edipaciente said. Although some light rain fell recently, part of the crop has already been affected. Growers with access to water have installed drip irrigation systems, while others have relied on tanks, pumps, and even water delivered by tanker trucks, all of which have pushed up production costs.

Edipaciente prepared his seedbed on 24 July and transplanted on 20 August, but plant development has been slow. If rainfall does not recover, both the quantity and quality of the flower harvest are expected to suffer.

Growers are also facing labor and fertilization costs. Daily wages can reach 250 pesos, on top of inputs such as urea and foliar fertilizers.

In previous seasons, a bundle of marigold flowers sold for between 50 and 80 pesos, dropping as low as 30 pesos when there was a surplus. This year, the tighter supply could push prices higher.

The drought has also reduced planted area. Edipaciente noted that growers in the zone normally plant between five and eight hectares, whereas this year he put just half a hectare into flowers and one hectare into sorghum.

 

Source: www.chiapas.quadratin.com.mx

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