Hyderabad: Due to high demand during the month of Shravanam, the price of all varieties of flowers has jumped 200 to 400 per cent in the city's wholesale markets. In retail markets the rise is almost 800 per cent.
The dip in the output from Telangana and the decrease in supplies from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra and increased demand due to the festival season upped prices last week.
The price of jasmines was Rs 90 per kg from June till last week in city markets. This reached Rs 300 per kg in wholesale markets due to Shravanam. The prices are between Rs 400 and Rs 500 per kg in retail markets.
Firecracker flower prices have jumped from Rs 100 per kg to Rs 400 per kg in wholesale markets and Rs 600 in retail. The prices of roses have risen from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 100 per kg. Except Marie Gold, the prices of all remaining flowers including loose and cut have increased.
Marie Gold costs Rs 30 per kg in wholesale markets and Rs 50 to Rs 100 in retail. More than 10,000 kg of Jasmines, 6,000 kg of Chamomile, 6,000 kg of Marigold, 5,000 kg of firecracker, 10,000 kg of rose (various varieties) and thousands of kgs of various cut flowers used to land in TS markets from the Telugu month Sravanam and demand continues during Bhadrapadam to Karthikam due to festivals.
As farmers from the city’s outskirts have given up horticulture the output from Ranga Reddy district has fallen to just 20 per cent. Most of the flowers in the city are being imported from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
City markets are getting jasmines from Mylavaram and Vijayawada in AP, loose flowers like roses and cut flowers including gerbera and carnations from Hosur in Tamil Nadu, Crossandra, Marie Gold and roses from Chikballapur in Karnataka, firecrackers, jasmine and other loose flowers from Maharashtra.
Flower wholesalers' association leader at Gudimalkapur market B. Mahipal Reddy said the increased rates would be constant for three months. "The price will come down from December. As flower cultivation has decreased in TS the prices are increasing year after year," he said.
