Farmers smell money in fragrance, reap riches

Mylavaram (Krishna): Jasmine cultivation is virtually raining money for the farmers at a time the farmers are losing in cultivation due to severe variation of rainfall in the upland area of Mylavaram in Krishna district of late. Once one reaches Chandragudem village in Mylavaram mandal in Krishna district one is overpowered by the sweet fragrance of jasmine as it is cultivated in more than 200 acres on the outskirts of the village.

Taking cue from the farmers of Chandragudem, their counterparts in the neighbouring villages too started cultivation of jasmine in about 600 acres all over the mandal.Farmers prepare the jasmine plants by removing foliage and providing plenty of water to them by November and December. The flowers would be ready by March.

They start plucking flowers in the first week of March which would be one hundred kg per acre per day in the early days. This continues for fifteen days and later the yield comes down. However, if they take precautions like using fertiliser either chemical or organic after one month of plucking flowers, the yield would go up once again giving unusual profits to the farmers. Farmers said that the total investment would be Rs 50,000 in addition to the tenancy amount.

There has been considerable demand for jasmine of late from cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and neighbouring districts of Khammam. It is a known fact that several varieties of perfumes are made from jasmine. The demand further moves up during the time of marriages and functions. During the season, on any given day a number of vehicles transport at least four tonnes of jasmine to Hyderabad where the price is fixed depending upon the day’s demand.

The farmers would be paid the amount once a week. The sale of jasmine is an interesting aspect. At Chandragudem, there are two groups which vie with each other to earn rights to export jasmine to Hyderabad. An auction is conducted every year over the rights on the premises of the temple of Lord Siva in the village. One could imagine the demand after learning that this year the auction amount has gone up to Rs 6 lakh as against the last year’s Rs 5 lakh.

The group acquires the rights to export jasmine to Hyderabad during the season and collects Rs one per kg from farmers to the group. The auction amount would be spent for the development of Siva temple and the money earned above the amount would be shared by the group which won the auction. Courtesy jasmine, the temple of Siva is renovated and developed with the auction money.

The first lot of jasmine bags arrive by 8 am on the temple premises which would be sent to Hyderabad. Then the next lot would arrive by 11 am for sale to the local traders. The price of jasmine depends upon the local demand. A number of farmers, farm hands, traders, transport workers are making a decent living mainly on jasmine.

Horticulture officer Ashok said that jasmine is cultivated in about 600 acres in Mylavaram mandal alone. He said that during the season the yield would be four tonnes per acre giving handsome returns to the farmers. The yield could be further improved if the farmers take precautions timely by implementing the suggestions from the horticulture department, he adds.