With people gearing up to welcome the New Year, prices of flowers have been at an all time high in Jajpur district, as elsewhere in the State.
Manoj Sahoo, a flower vendor of Bari, said, “In view of New Year's time, the flower costs have gone up manifolds. Every year, sale of flowers is very high, particularly during the New Year eve. “New Year and Valentine Day are considered major festive occasions. And, during these two occasions, sale of flowers is high,” said Prakash Pradhan, another flower seller of Jajpur. "Our earnings are linked with demand. If demand is high, we get a better price. Otherwise, our income slumps," informed 40-year old florist Mohammad Faeem of Balichandrapur village.
like Faeeam at least 300 flower raisers of the district are set to earn more as they have been ordered to meet huge demands of flowers, particular red rose on New Year's Day.
At least 50 flower-sellers of the district are keenly awaiting for the arrival of New Year's Day with many of them already having placed bulk orders for red roses. This occasion provides them an opportunity to make brisk sales and for that obviously forward planning has to be done, said Tikan Sahoo, a trader of Jajpur.
When Ranjan Pradhan of Bari started marigold plantation on the banks of the river Birupa a couple of years ago, it did not attract enough attention with most of the villagers turning down the idea as a risk not worth taking. However, with a spurt in demand for flowers of all kinds, floriculture that involves plantation of flowering plants is fast catching up in the villages. The district is witnessing plantation of marigold flowers, rose and gladiolus on a commercial scale.
Many florists of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have already placed orders to get red roses and other flowers from the flower raisers. Prakasah Jena who runs his flower shop at College Square at Jajpur said that although currently the sales were down yet he and other florists hope to earn more from Sunday. "From a business point of view, it is our biggest occasion", he said. "The current price of roses per dozen is Rs 80 but it will increase up to Rs130 on the coming Tuesday on the New Years Day.
"We have already placed our orders for fresh stocks now, especially red roses and we hope that the business will be as good as it was last year," said Ashok Sahoo, flower seller of Jajpur. Many florists of the State were solely depending on the flower traders of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh five years back. But now in many parts of the State, large numbers of farmers are raising sundry flowers. To avoid shortage of roses on New Year Day, many flower-sellers stored flowers in refrigerator a week ahead of the occasion.