Udupi: Shankarpura Jasmine gets national recognition

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 17: Jasmine flower has a unique fragrance that attracts all and sundry towards it. Jasmine crop, which happens to be a major commercial crop of the region, has now won national identity and honour for itself.

The department of horticulture had, sometime back, requested the union government to extend national identity to jasmine grown in Shankarpura region. The jasmines grown here had obtained geographical induction certificate about two years ago. The central government has accepted this recommendation. It is hoped that this recognition will help the farmers to market the flowers grown by them even in foreign countries and thereby get good prices.

As per an estimate, over 25,000 farmers from the district are growing this crop. Jasmine from Shankarpura is used prominently in almost all auspicious functions across coastal Karnataka including temples. A farmer, Andrew Lobo, expressed happiness at this rare honour. In general, jasmine farmers have expressed the opinion that they would be able to reap benefits of this accreditation only when arrangements are made for directly exporting the crop to foreign destinations.

President of Jasmine Cultivators Association, Ramakrishna Sharma Bantakal, while expressing elation at the national honour bestowed on the flower, said that this will act like a patent for these flowers, and that this in effect, has bestowed the right to grow jasmine to coastal farmers.

At present, jasmine growers are facing a predicament in the form of crashed prices because of ‘poverty amidst plenty’ phenomenon. Although jasmine is grown in abundance, rates generally plummet during rainy season because of absence of auspicious functions.