Chennai: In a major setback for customers in Kerala, the price of Jasmine in Tamil Nadu has risen to Rs 4500 per kilogram. 

Traders attribute the price hike to the destruction of Jasmine harvests due to continuous rainfall and the onset of the wedding season in Tamil Nadu. 

The southern districts of Tamil Nadu are the primary areas for jasmine cultivation. Due to Cyclone Fengal, heavy rains in these districts caused widespread crop damage, destroying acres of jasmine crops. As a result, the harvest has decreased considerably, leading to rise in prices, traders said.

Prices are expected to remain high until January. December is one of the months when jasmine is most widely used in Tamil Nadu.