Blooming shame: Pandemic and Ukraine war hurts Thai orchid industry

Workers processing orchids to be exported for wholesale at an orchid farm in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, on May 7, 2022. - AFP

NAKHON PATHOM (Thailand), May 8 (AFP): Thailand's orchid growers, already weary after two years of being battered by the pandemic, are bracing for fresh blows to their livelihood as the war in Ukraine and changing weather patterns further cloud their futures.

Once considered a popular pastime among the elite in Thailand, orchid growing has developed into a multi-million dollar industry, and the kingdom is the world's biggest producer and exporter of cut orchids.