Flower farmers in Vedaranyam are grappling with a less jubilant mood than their customary pre-festival enthusiasm as Ayutha Poojai approaches this year. The festival’s delayed arrival in the calendar, coupled with the onset of misty weather, has taken a toll on flower production and supply. “Ayutha Poojai is two weeks later than usual. Over the past week, Vedaranyam has been enveloped in mist, and we are approaching winter, which is causing a reduction in flower blossoming,” explained R. Sritharan, a flower farmer from Karuppambulam in Vedaranyam block.
Vedaranyam is a singular block in the district where floriculture takes center stage. Here, jasmine flowers, known as ‘malligai’ and ‘mullai,’ blanket approximately two thousand acres of land. These aromatic blooms are cultivated in numerous villages, including Karuppambulam, Ayakkaranpulam, Maruthur, Vaimedu, Thambirankudikadu, Kadinalvayal, and Kuravapulam.
Each of these villages is home to anywhere from 500 to 1,000 households involved in jasmine cultivation, making it a way of life. The harvested flowers find their way to traders in Mannargudi, Pattukottai, Karaikal, and Mayiladuthurai. During non-festival periods, the procurement rates for Malligai and Mullai typically hover around Rs 230 and Rs 300. However, as Ayutha Poojai approaches, these rates skyrocket, often reaching as high as Rs 400 and Rs 500.
Procuring traders then distribute the blooms to other districts, either through intermediaries or directly. But with the current decline in flower supply due to misty conditions, some anticipate an even more significant price surge. K. Baskar, a procuring trader from Ayakkaranpulam in Vedaranyam block, shared his insights, stating, “There’s been a roughly 25% reduction in flower procurement from farmers due to the mist. As a result, market rates could soar to nearly Rs 1,000 due to the combination of diminished supply and heightened demand.”
