Special Report: Jasmine cultivation in Bhatkal

Feb 11, 2015 | Rizwan Gangavaly | Bhatkallys News Bhatkal: For years, the wonderful fragrance of Jasmine flower has been fascinating the town of Bhatkal. The flower, which is cultivated in Bhatkal by local farmers has served to beautify and give pleasure to many with its magnificent fragrance. Be it a wedding ceremony or a funeral, a bride groom's neck or a bride's head this flower has served to beautify and enchant one and all with it's mesmerising fragrance. Credit of all this goes to farmers who toil day and night to bring smiles to thousands of faces. Let us look into the process of Jasmine cultivation in Bhatkal. In this relation, we met a famous flower cultivator of Bhatkal, Zafrulla Peerzaade, a resident of Jaali, who has been involved in this business for more than 40 years now. Currently involved in cultivation of flowers in a place "Rose Garden" situated in front of Imam Abu Hanifa Masjid, Zafrulla has lost an eye and a finger in this business. He started the act with meager 2-3 plants but now his flower farm is spread to 2 hectares. Soon, he planted trees in various locations in and around Bhatkal because of which more than 300 families are involved in this work. In the end, he requested the residents of Bhatkal to pursue cultivation of this wonderful flower to bring happiness in the lives of many. - ARF