Farmers patronise new jasmine varieties of TNAU holding economic promise

Star jasmine variety developed by TNAU.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The new star jasmine and winter jasmine varieties released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in recent years are gradually eliciting the patronage from farmers, owing to their economic value, say researchers.

The TNAU developed these jasmine varieties through ‘selection’ process since there are hybridisation barriers for jasmine.

Star jasmine, released in 2019, and winter jasmine in 2023, with buds in dark pink shade have been generating income for the farmers during winter months (when the flowering of normal varieties – gundu malli, jathi malli and mullai – stops), said M. Ganga, Professor and Head, Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, TNAU.

The star jasmine variety (Jasminum nitidum) comes with a year-long flowering trait, with attractive bold buds that remain unopened for 12 hours under room temperature and for 60 hours under refrigeration.

Although the fragrance is not as much as the common ones, cultivation of the new varieties, in particular, the winter jasmine that flowers profusely during the winter months – the time of the year when several auspicious events take place as per Hindu calendar – have now being taken up for commercial cultivation in larger extents, Prof. Ganga said.

The winter jasmine variety (Jasminum multiflorum) also have similar trait with attractive pink hue.

The jasmine farmers are advised to go for a mix of varieties, and hence it is difficult to arrive at the exact extent of increase in cultivation of the new varieties.

These varieties are white in colour in the upper side, but are in demand in the market since the garlands are made in the pink bud stage.

Meanwhile, officials in agriculture department said the scope for utilising the allocation made in the 2025 Budget for scaling up jasmine cultivation in Coimbatore region would be explored.

The government has earmarked ₹1.6 crore for expanding jasmine cultivation by adding 3,000 acres benefitting 7000 farmers.

At present, the flower is cultivated in 42,000 acres across the State, yielding two lakh matric tonnes.