Rains affect Rawa Belong flower traders

JAKARTA (JP): Flower traders at Rawa Belong market in West Jakarta have started to resurrect their once flourishing trade after overcoming their recent supply problems.

Traders said major suppliers in Sukabumi, Cianjur and Cipanas were finally able to met their orders at the weekend after heavy rains rendered many of West Java's dirt farm roads impassable in recent weeks.

"Many consignments of flowers remained undelivered in recent weeks because of transportation problems," Makmur, a flower trader, told Antara on Saturday.

Makmur, who has been selling flowers at the market for over 10 years, said his daily turnover had fallen to between Rp 150,000 and Rp 200,000 as a result of the scarcity.

"Now my sales have recovered to a daily average somewhere between Rp 500,000 and Rp 800,000," he said.

The Rawa Belong traders said most of their customers show a strong preference for flowers from West Java such as orchids, roses and bougainvillea.

Another trader, Amir, said growth in certain species of flower was curtailed in the rainy season.

"It's difficult for orchids to bloom during the rainy season," he said.

Amir said he could now obtain only 10 or 15 bundles of orchids each day compared to at least 20 bundles during the dry season. Each bundle costs Rp 10,000.

Most traders admit that the prolonged monetary crisis has badly affected their sales.

"Only the sale of funeral bouquets has remained stable," Makmur explained. (bsr)