The production of jasmine flowers has come down drastically and the price, too, has declined. This year, Jasmine flower has been cultivated over 50,000 acres of land in Erode district.

During the peak harvest season, from March to October, 25 tonnes used to arrive daily and flower cultivators were able to get ₹500-1,500 a kg. “Jasmine production has gone down to 1.5-2 tonnes a day. This is due to the failure of seasonal rains and also heavy frost,” said Muthuswamy, Secretary of the Sathyamangalam Flower Cultivator Farmers Association.

On Wednesday, 1.5 tonnes arrived and fetched ₹350/kg.

The prevailing frost has affected arrivals as many plants have started withering.

The plucked flowers are also not of good quality, so buyers quoted lower prices, he added.

Muthuswamy said the price of other flowers such as Arabian jasmine (mullai) and Magnolia champaca (Sampangi) have also decreased. The former was sold at ₹300 per kg on Wednesday. Two days back, the Arabian jasmine fetched ₹700/kg and after closure of the flower auction on Tuesday the price did not improve on Wednesday.