Udupi: Lack of Incentives Plagues ‘Shankarapura Mallige’ Growers
By Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Jun 7: ‘Shankarapura Mallige’, a distinct variety of jasmine grown in the district in the households of Shankarapura, near here, has a great demand from January to June annually.
It is also known as ‘Udupi Mallige’ because it is grown in the district and known by that name in India and the global market. This distinct variety of jasmine is essential on all auspicious occasions, weddings, and religious celebrations just as jewellery.
Although this distinct variety of jasmine is in great demand in undivided Dakshina Kannada district, in the state and across Indian metros and in the international markets, it is unfortunate that the jasmine growers do not get a fair deal for their labour and the trade is in the grip of middlemen.
Jasmine farming was a profitable venture a few decades ago in Shankarapura. It had sustained many families who farmed on 10–50 cents plots by just growing 10-100 jasmine plants.
With this income, these families could educate their children, get them married, and also build their own houses. However, the new generation of jasmine growers lacks interest in the family business. The lack of state incentives for jasmine farming has also contributed to the dwindling income of growers.
Four ‘Chendu’ of around 800 jasmine flowers is known as one ‘Atti’ that is sold from a minimum of Rs 80–Rs 450. One ‘Atti’ each was sold for Rs 480 during the wedding season this year while the middlemen procure the stock from jasmine growers for just Rs 120 per ‘Atti’ and also threaten to stop buying if the jasmine growers demand more.
The local peasants’ organization supports the idea of jasmine growers establishing their own co-operative society.
If this becomes reality, the jasmine growers will be saved from the grip of middlemen and earn substantially.
If the jasmine growers co-operative society takes measures to fix the price of jasmine stock daily, installs cold storage facility for jasmine stock, provides technical information to jasmine growers, explores the possibility of establishing a perfumery for jasmine, educates them on various diseases that plague jasmine cultivation from time to time, and advises them on treatment to curb those diseases, more people will take-up jasmine farming.
About 6.000 to 7,000 ‘Atti’ of jasmine that is being sold every day, which would generate an income of Rs 35 – 40 crore that account for annual income of entire jasmine growers in the district; while the middlemen’s income ranges from Rs 200 – 250 crore.
Multi national companies are making their efforts from behind the scenes, in order to get patent for Shankarapura jasmine. Meanwhile, the union government has been trying to hold the patent for the same, in the interest of jasmine growers in the district. Further, if the MNC gets patent for Shankarapura jasmine; it would push the jasmine growers into brink.
The jasmine growers put-forth their demands with the state, to establish their own co-operative society and fix the daily rates for their stock depending on demand and availability, take measures to improve the quality of jasmine stock.
The state has already given green signal to set-up a Jasmine reserve plantation at nearby Ramasamudra in Karkala taluk, near here. Besides, the state has plans to set up an auction-centre for dealing in jasmine at Shivalli, here through plantation department. If this comes true, the plight of jasmine growers would improve and more household families will grow jasmine in their plantations and farmlands. It would become a lucrative venture.