Farmers in Tamil Nadu adopt new jasmine varieties

Farmers in Tamil Nadu are showing increased interest in new jasmine varieties developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). These varieties, called star jasmine and winter jasmine, have been created to offer better economic benefits to growers. The star jasmine was introduced in 2019, and winter jasmine followed in 2023. Both types are popular because they bloom in winter when traditional jasmine varieties, like gundu malli and jathi malli, do not flower. The star jasmine has the unique ability to flower throughout the year, with buds that remain fresh for long periods. Although these new varieties do not have as strong a fragrance as traditional types, their appealing pink buds make them desirable for commercial use. Winter jasmine, in particular, blooms heavily in winter, coinciding with many festive events in the Hindu calendar. Prof. M. Ganga from TNAU advises farmers to plant a mix of jasmine varieties. This makes it hard to track the exact increase in new variety cultivation. Currently, jasmine is grown on 42,000 acres in Tamil Nadu, producing about 200,000 metric tonnes of flowers. The government is also taking steps to boost jasmine farming. In the 2025 Budget, ₹1.6 crore has been allocated to expand jasmine cultivation by an additional 3,000 acres, benefiting around 7,000 farmers in the Coimbatore region.