Date:07/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/07/stories/2008080750720200.htm

Other States - Orissa

Fall in kewra prices affects many lives

Staff Reporter

Many distilleries have downed their shutters

— Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Lost fragrance: Workers sorting out kewra flowers in Kukudakhandi block of Ganjam district.

BERHAMPUR: Sudden fall in the price and demand of kewra essence in the national and international markets had affected the livelihood of kewra growers in the Ganjam district of Orissa.

Loads of kewra flowers were rotting as most of the kewra distilleries had closed down their shutters due to tussle between the kewra growers and the distillers over the price of flowers. It may be noted that four coastal blocks of Ganjam district produce more than 90 per cent of the economically-viable kewra production in India. There were around 250 kewra distilleries in these blocks. But for more than a week most of the distilleries were closed due to tussle between kewra growers and distillers over the price of kewra flowers. The season for kewra flower plucking has started. The distillers say they are not in a position to buy flowers at the high prices of earlier years as the price of kewra essence or ‘rooh’ as it is known, has gone down steeply in the market. “Earlier the price of kewra essence was Rs. 3,30,000 per kilogram, which has come down to Rs. 2,30,000. So, we are compelled to reduce the price of kewra flowers or our raw materials this year,” said Natabar Sahu, a kewra distiller. He said the fall in demand of kewra essence may be due to reduction of demand for pan-masala and gutka, where this essence is a major ingredient.

But the kewra growers were not ready to accept the fall in procurement price of the flowers.

Earlier the average price of each flower till last plucking season used to be around Rs. 9. But at present the distillers were paying around Rs. 6 for reach flower. Most of the distilleries have closed down their shutters rather than buying flowers at a higher price. On Sunday a mob of kewra growers ransacked a distillery at Indrakshi village when its owner refused to accept flowers at higher prices.

According to leader of kewra growers, M. Damburu Reddy, the price of flowers could not be reduced from Rs. 9, as it was decided at a joint meeting of the distillery owners and kewra growers last year.

The Congress MLA of Gopalpur, Trinath Behera urged the State Government to interfere in the issue. Otherwise it may lead to suicides by the kewra growers who have lost their livelihood after the fall in price of flowers and closing of distilleries.