Jasmine prices drop drastically in 24 hours

The price of top quality Jasmine which was sold up to Rs 6,000 on Sunday had drastically reduced to just rs.1,000 in a single day in Thovalai mariket in Kanniyakumari district. In the later part of the day Jasmine was even sold at rs.500 in Arupukottai flower market. 

Jasmine is one of the most preferred flowers by women on auspicious occasions such as festivals and marriage. However recently Jasmine had witnessed a astronomical hike in prices across the state.

Jasmines which are usually sold at rs.200 to 400 on usual days slowly escalated to rs.4,000 last week and on Sunday reached the peak on Sunday by touching rs.6,000 mark. Thovalai market, located near the Kerala border, is one of the largest wholesale flower market in the state largely because of its proximity to Kerala. 

Flowers from across the state and from Bengaluru reach Thovalai market. The rate in Thovalai market is taken as the benchmark rate for most flowers including Jasmine across the state. 

However due to recent increase in snow fall across the state the production of jasmine had fallen down drastically. The fall in production couple with high demand due to marriage season jasmine prices skyrocketed and reached rs.6,000, on Sunday. 

But on a single day the prices had decreased drastically to rs.1,000 at Thovalai market, on Monday. Speaking to DTNEXT, Kamal, owner of Veeramani flowers in Thovalai, said that usually the price of Jasmine would be around rs.200 but due to decrease in production and marriage season the prices escalated. 

However due to sudden surge in inflow of jasmine flowers the prices had decreased drastically in the market. Also the demand had reduced probably because there are marriage days ahead. However the prices would settle down only after February said Kamal. 

Kesavan, a wholesale jasmine trader from Madurai, said that the main reason for drastic reduction in prices is fall in export of jasmine to countries like Singapore and Malaysia. Because of fall in export the inflow to local market was high which resulted in drop in prices. 

In the recent past production was affected due to snow fall and the production will become stable only after 20 days said Kesavan. He also said that not all qualities of Jasmine was sold at rs.6,000.

Usually a shop would get at least four different qualities of jasmine, the quality being decided based on the size of the buds. On Monday, the price of top quality Jasmine started at rs.4,000 in the early morning and settled down to rs.1,000 in the afternoon.

In Arupukottai flower market the second quality jasmine was even sold at Rs 500 at around 2 pm on Monday, said Kesavan.