Karnataka: Shankarapura jasmine touches historic high of Rs 2,200 per atte

MANGALURU/UDUPI: The most perishable commodity and the most sought after are flowers during the festive season, especially Shankarapura jasmine. This festive season is no different.
The famed Shankarapura jasmine, which normally retails for Rs 600 per atte (a local measure) during normal festive times with average crop, this year touched a record high of Rs 2,200 per atte.
The high demand low supply situation saw the price of Shankarapura Jasmine, that was accorded geographical indication (GI) status in 2008, remain steady at Rs 2,200 since Wednesday morning, whereas, the price of Bhatkal mallige, equally fragrant, crashed from a high of Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,000 by afternoon, says BK Ismail, wholesale merchant.
Other than procuring Jasmine locally, Ismail gets his Chrysanthemums and Marigolds from Hassan, Chitradurga, Mysuru or Tumakru, depending on demand and supply situation.
Ismail notes that the highest Shankarapura mallige, grown in Shankarapura village of Udupi district, fetched last year was Rs 1,950. The high price means very few takers.
"If available in abundance and prices are fair, a marriage party will purchase it for the whole family, say five to six attes. This time I sold one atte to a marriage party, which will go to the bride," he said.
Even marigolds aren't cheap. One Kucchu (a local measure roughly equalling 70-80 feet) was priced at Rs 1,500 as against Rs 300 available during normal times.
Manjunath Patkar, a grower, from Bantakallu in Udupi, says though the normal crop in the region gives flowers equal to 10 atte, on Wednesday it was enough for only four attes, indicating how badly the growers had been hit. "Even with high prices, it does not make economic sense as the untimely rains have damaged the plants," he added.
The highly perishable commodity has a good demand in all over the region, especially Mangaluru and Mumbai. These flowers have been seen in different parts of the world thanks to Canarites in every nook and corner who are in love with the flower and use it for auspicious occasions.
There are about 10,000 families engaged in jasmine cultivation in the coastal districts extending from Kasaragod to Uttara Kannada, with a maximum number of 8,000 families being in Udupi district. The lowest rate for an ‘atte’ hovers between Rs 80 and Rs 100 during off season and it sometimes goes down to as low as Rs 40 during transport strikes.