Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 9: Bhatkal jasmine is a flower that has earned the affection of the residents of coastal Karnataka. This variety of jasmine stormed the Mangaluru market in 2007. Now they have the potential to influence the flower markets of Mangaluru and Udupi.
Bhatkal jasmine commanded a price of Rs 80 to 100 per unit initially. Now the rate is hovering around Rs 1,200. The price of all varieties of jasmine in the entire coast is under the control of Bhatkal jasmine.
Shankarapura jasmine was sold at Rs 530 a unit as on January 30. At that time, Bhatkal jasmine was priced at Rs 230. On February 5, Shankarapura jasmine commanded a price of Rs 2,100 as against the Bhatkal jasmine which rose to Rs 1,230. The changes in prices are happening on a daily basis, and the rates are unpredictable, illogical, and unreasonable. These changes have left the customers and flower merchants bewildered and shaken.
Because of the upheaval in the rates, the flower merchants are facing huge losses. Many a time, the merchants who buy jasmine at Rs 1,000 per unit are forced to sell the same for Rs 500 the next day, laments Irfan, a flower merchant.
As many as 2000 units each of Bhatkal jasmine is supplied to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Qasim Khan, a wholesale flower merchant from the city had managed to ensure that Sankarapura jasmine rate never exceeded Rs 830 , three years ago. This benefitted the merchants and the consumers alike. Later, Shankarapura jasmine prices shot out of control and now commands a price of Rs 2,050. Sometimes prices soar beyond this limit. Bhatkal jasmine price has no regulation mechanism.
Based on the demand for the day, the wholesale flower merchants from Mangaluru and Udupi place indent for Bhatkal jasmine. When the demand is high, Bhatkal jasmine rate shoots up. The prices coincide with Sankarpura jasmine and wholesalers of Bhatkal jasmine reduce their rates in the afternoon. As a result, Bhatkal jasmine rates are not steady and keep the people guessing. As a result, the flower market is suffering losses.