Andhra takes to Jasmine cultivation

Krishnagiri (TN), June 21 (ANI): Grown extensively over almost 800 hectares of agricultural land in Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, Jasmine flower is changing the lives of the farmers exporting it to the Gulf countries.

Jasmine is easier and cheaper to grow. The flower is priced at almost 150 to 300 rupees per kilogram.

"We have nine acres of land on which we have planted jasmine flowers. We get a yield of around 100 to 150 kilograms of jasmine. We have a number of people working in the flowers garden. We fetch around Rupees 150 to 300 in the local markets," said Saroja, a local farmer.

The government encourages the farmers by providing subsidies and modern technology. Besides, they also help the farmers market the produce.

"We encourage the farmers in the schemes and other aspects also, marketing aspects, storage aspects, about wholesale markets, and all this comes in the schemes, its not that we support farmers by only giving them subsidies and technical know-how's we give them up support up to the marketing level," said Surendaran, assistant director of horticulture department, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.

The farmers though want the government to extend financial assistance so as the area under flower cultivation increases. The farmers are also demanding setting up of cold storages so as to preserve the flowers for a longer time.

The flower industry in the state fetches almost three billion rupees per annum from foreign exports. Owing to the favourable weather, other than jasmine, tuberoses, roses, marigolds, chrysanthemums are also grown in the area. By Jai Kumar (ANI)