Jasmine fragrance spreads overseas

KARWAR - Bhatkal Jasmine, which is limited to Bhatkal taluk has been spreading its fragrance in Dubai where this beautiful flower has great demand. Bhatkal Jasmine is available in Mangalore, Mysore and Bangalore too. Carrying Bhatkal jasmine to Kollur Mukambika temple to adorn the deity during Navaratri festival is an old tradition. The people employed by the temple go by foot from Bhatkal to Kollur for this purpose. According to the horticulture department, Jasmine is grown on 20 acres in Bhatkal taluk. Nearly 120 farmers are engaged in its cultivation. Women's self help groups have also taken up the cultivation. Visit any jasmine farm and one can find evergreen trailing vines and shrubs creating a dense mat of attractive foliage. The sweet scented white flowers have a refreshing effect. Bhatkal Jasmine are different from Mysore Jasmine in shape and size. While Mysore Jasmine is round, Bhatkal Jasmines are longer. Wellknit Jasmine flowers which women wear, are in great demand. Around 1,320 Jasmine plants can be grown on one acre. This can be more lucrative if the land holding is more. However most of the farmers engaged in the cultivation of Jasmine in Bhatkal taluk are small holders. The Jasmine plants are very sensitive to certain diseases. The Jasmine farms are normally attacked by red spider mites. According to district horticulture officer HN Naik, the department has been encouraging farmers to take up Jasmine farming by providing them plants, subsidy to the extent of Rs 12,000 and pesticide. Bhatkal Jasmine should be included in geographical indication (GI) list to safeguard the interest of growers. Centre for International Trade in Agriculture and Agro based Industries, Pune, provides GI status to such localised agriculture of horticulture produce so that no outsiders can claim it to be their own and patent it.

Bhatkallys News