Marigold flowers have been in great demand in the months leading up to the general election as politicians have been racing to meet people across the country in an attempt to win their votes.

People in Thailand have always used marigold garlands for religious or ritual purposes, partly because its name in Thai “Dao Ruang” means prosperity and its yellow colour is associated with Buddhism.

Most politicians vying for a parliamentary seat in the May 14^th general election are to be seen holding the orange and yellow flower garlands or wearing them around their necks. The garlands are given to them by their supporters everywhere they go.

The Election Commission reports that 6,679 candidates from 70 parties are campaigning in 400 constituencies across the country. This is why the flower is in such demand in every corner of the country, with growers working hard to meet demand.

In the central province of Nakhon Sawan, the price per flower has been on the rise, from Bt1 to Bt4, and the price of a garland of marigolds has risen from Bt100 to as much as Bt140.

A flower vendor said that, no matter how much the price goes up, supporters of politicians are ready to pay, adding that she is having difficulty finding marigolds, as many wholesale markets are out of stock.

Preecha Lenwaree, a marigold farmer in Photharam district of Ratchaburi province, said that he previously planted vegetables, such as bitter gourds, cucumbers and eggplants, and supplied them to nearby markets.

Now he has changed to grow marigolds on his 1.28 hectare plot of land. It seems that he made the right decision because, with the price of the flower rising during the election campaign period, he is selling flowers worth 3,000-5,000 per day.