Coimbatore: Prices shoot up in flower market ahead of Onam

COIMBATORE: The flower market on Mettupalayam Road is witnessing brisk business ahead of the Onam festival that falls on Thursday.
Prices of most of the flowers have gone up by at least 25 to 50%.
Treasurer of Kovai Maanagar Mavatta Anaithu Malar Viyabarigal Nala Sangam A P S Durai said the prices went up due to Ganesha Chathurthi, Muhurtham and Onam festival. “A kilo of jasmine was sold for just 800 to 1,000 last month. It reached an all-time high of 3,000 a few days ago and is now sold for 2,000. Price of sendumalli, vadamalli, mullapoo and rose have increased by 50 to 400. A major portion of the business is now being done by Kerala-based traders because of Onam. They regularly purchase a huge quantity of flowers.”
Supply has been hit because of the recent rainfall in Dharmapuri and Bengaluru, from where flowers are sourced, Durai said. A small quantity of flowers is being exported to Dubai and Singapore.
Meanwhile, vegetable traders said the business was dull due to short supplies. Prices of most of the vegetables are same as last week. But tomato, which was sold for 26 a kilo last week, was sold for 40 on Wednesday.
“Usually, around 2,000 tonnes of vegetables are supplied to MGR Market during festival seasons. But, only 1,000 tonnes have arrived so far,” said M Rajendran, president of Kovai Mavatta Kalaignar Anaithu Motha Kaikari Viyabarigal Sangam. He attributed the drop in sales to customers buying vegetables at fixed prices from departmental stores.