Flower prices shoot up in wholesale market ahead of Onam

Dindigul (TN), Sep 12 (PTI) Prices of almost allflowers in the wholesale flower market in the district havespiralled owing to an increase in demand ahead of the Onamfestival to be celebrated in Kerala, on September 13. The Dindigul wholesale market, one of the biggestmarkets in South Tamil Nadu, supplies several tonnes offlowers to Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Vellore, Chennai and Kerala,which is a major buyer from the market during the Onam Season. Despite good arrivals, the increasing demand haspushed up the flowers prices, traders said. The market received around 10 tonnes of flowers forthe past one week and 50 percent of them were sent to Kerala. Some of the varietes in great demand in Kerala areMary Gold, Vadamalli, and Tulasi, said Kennedy, a trader inthe Dindigul Flower Market. Prices of Vadamalli have shot up to Rs 80 from Rs 20per kg last week, and that of Marigold rose to Rs 120 from Rs20 per kg. Prices of other flowers too has been soaring high inthe market for the last one week. On saturday, two tonnes of Vadamalli and Mary goldarrived in the market. While Jasmine is being sold at Rs 500 per kg, Mullaicosts Rs 300 per kg, Sampanki at Rs 350, Jaathimalli Rs 120,Button rose at Rs 100 and rose varieties at Rs 60 per Kg, saidBaskar, a member of the Dindigul flower traders’ associationtold PTI. Flower prices are expected to rise by 30 to 40 percentin the coming days, he said. Nilakottai, Reddiyarchatram, A. Vellodu,Vadamadurai, Sempatti, Perumalkovilpatti, Panjampatti,Kodai road, Sendurai, Ambathurai, Athur are the majorflower producing centres in Dindigul district. PTI CORROH