Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Dec 17: Because of upward swing in demand and short supply, the famous Shankarpura jasmine price went skyward on Sunday. On Sunday December 16, an Atte (set of four small bundles of jasmine flowers woven neatly) commanded a price of Rs 1,250.

It is said that the price went up because of overlapping of auspicious occasions and 'Dhanu' Sankramana which is considered auspicious by Hindus.

The jasmine rate review centre had, last month, fixed maximum price of jasmine at Rs 1,250 per Atte in case of acute shortage. Thereafter, for the first time, the price hit the roof and reached maximum price limit on Sunday, and created a new record. As compared to it, the rate for jasmine on Saturday had remained at Rs 850.

It is said that because of winter the production of jasmine has gone down, and jasmine plants are affected by certain diseases, resulting in reduction in the quantity of jasmine reaching the market. Risen demand and fallen supply have given rise to this situation.

There had been occasion on which some merchants colluded to create artificial scarcity of jasmine in the market and command higher prices for this beautiful land fragrant flower. There were days on which price of jasmine per Atte crashed to Rs 70 and even then there were no buyers for it.