Frangipani farmers dump 10 tonnes of flowers
FARMERS in Tamil Nadu, India, were forced to dump 10 tonnes of flowers after their prices hit rock bottom, Makkal Osai reported.
The farms in Sathyamangalam specialise in cultivating sambangi (frangipani) flowers which are widely used in perfume making, social events and religious rituals.
They are exported to Kerala, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and other states.
However, the higher than average rainfall this year has produced twice the farms' normal output. The high supply has caused the prices for the flowers, which usually cost around 500 rupees (RM25) per kg during wedding seasons and 50 rupees (RM2.50) at other times, to fall to just 10 rupees (50sen) per kg.
After spending tens of thousands of rupees cultivating the flowers, the low prices have left farmers with huge losses forcing them to cut costs by dumping the crop into irrigation canals along their farms.The farmers petitioned district officials for financial support to help them sustain their farms.
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