Prices of almost all flowers in the wholesale market here have shot up sharply due to increased demand in view of Vinayagar Chathurthi to be celebrated on Friday and Onam on September 6.
Dindigul, one of the biggest markets in south Tamil Nadu, dispatches several quintals of flowers to Coimbatore, Erode, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Vellore and Chennai, besides Mumbai, Kerala and Malaysia. Poor arrivals owing to acute drought and monsoon failure, and burgeoning demand have catapulted flower prices. The arrivals have come down by half this season. The market received five tonnes of flowers on Wednesday, against the normal daily arrival of 10 tonnes.
Growers of ‘kanakambaram’ (Crossandra) are the most blessed among farmers. Its price touched an all-time high of Rs.1,000 a kg, against Rs.300 it fetched last week.
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Flower growers, who have sustainable water source for irrigation, have been enjoying the high procurement prices.
Prices of jasmine have almost tripled; oleander (arali) rose by 250 per cent; ‘mullai’ touched Rs.400 a kg; ‘sendu malli’ rose to Rs.100 from just Rs.30 a kg last week and the price of ‘jaathi malli’ touched Rs.300 a kg from Rs.180.
The price of jasmine is oscillating between Rs.650 and Rs.700 a kg, up from Rs.250 four days ago, says K. Kannan, a wholesale flower merchant. “Demand for flowers is good this month because of Vinayagar Chathurthi and Onam. Bulk orders started pouring in from Tuesday. There is bulk procurement from here by Kerala flower vendors but the demand exceeds supply,” he adds.
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Prices of rose touched Rs.100 a kg, against Rs.30 on Monday. Marigold, chamomile, ‘marikozhundhu’ and ‘tulsi’ are also sold at higher prices, says A. Xavier, another merchant.
Flower prices are expected to increase by 30 per cent on Thursday. The price of jasmine may touch Rs.1,000 a kg and ‘kanakambaram’ will cross Rs.1,300, opine merchants.
Villages around Dindigul such as Hanumantharayankottai, Perumalkovilpatti, Sendurai, Rajappakappatti, A. Vellode, Chinnalapatti, Ambathurai and Athoor are the major flower production centres.