India: Flower prices go up
The prices of jasmine, lotus and chrysanthemum (sevanthi) shot up on Tuesday. At the flower market, jasmine sold at anything from Rs. 600 and Rs. 1000 a kg and chrysanthemum cost Rs. 160 a kg as against the normal price range of Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 a kg.
According to D. Ramu of Nithyarubini Flowers, jasmine and chrysanthemum come to Coimbatore market from Sathyamangalam area while roses are from Hosur. The prices depend on arrival and demand.
In rainy and winter months, the quantity of jasmine drops and this results in high prices.
One of the lotus vendors at the flower market in the city said the price of a lotus was Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 on Tuesday. Lotus comes mainly from the Nagarcoil area and only 300 to 400 flowers have been coming each day because of the rains in that area. Usually the number is closer to 2,000 flowers. The hike in the cost of the flowers are seeing customers buying less quantity. Where they normally bought five, they are now buying only two, said Ramu and added that prices are expected to remain high till mid-January.
Kumar, a flower vendor in Ramanathapuram area, says customers prefer to buy strands of kadambam, when the price of jasmine goes up.
Source: The Hindu