Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi

Mangaluru/Udupi, Aug 3: The Shankarapura jasmine grown in the village of the same name of Udupi district has touched a record high of Rs 2,200 per atte (a measure) this year.

The flower which is normally sold for Rs 600 per atte during the festive times with an average yield is seeing a high demand and a low supply situation this year.

The Shankarapura Jasmine which was accorded the geographical indication status in 2008 remained steady at Rs 2,200 this morning whereas the Bhatkal mallige, another fragrant variant crashed to Rs 1,000 from Rs 1,600 by afternoon according to a wholesale merchant.

Shankarapura Jasmine had fetched a price of Rs 1,950 per atte last year which had few takers.

Local wholesale flower merchants source their Chrysanthemum and Marigold flowers from Chitradurga, Hassan, Mysuru and Tumakuru depending on demand and supply situation.

For instance, marigold flowers are not cheap as they are priced at Rs 1,500 per kuchchu (measure equalling 70-80 feet) against a normal price of Rs 300.

The high prices of flowers indicate that growers numbering about 10,000 families extending from Kasaragod to Uttara Kannada have been hit due to untimely rains that have damaged the plants. But, the maximum numbers of 8,000 families are in Udupi district.

The Shankarapura Jasmine enjoys a good demand in Mangaluru and Mumbai and people of the coastal region are in love with the flower and use it for auspicious occasions.

The Jasmine flower is sold between Rs 80 and Rs 100 during off season and it goes down to as low as Rs 40 during transport strikes.