Rows of jasmine flowers were being picked in the fields of Hengzhou in late May as farmers entered the harvest season. But days of persistent rain across southern China have left many growers anxiously watching the weather, uncertain about its impact on flower quality and market prices.

Jasmine flowers, prized for their fragrance and widely used in tea and essential oils, are highly sensitive to weather conditions. Excessive rainfall can weaken the flowers' aroma and reduce quality, while drought and extreme heat can hinder bud development and cut yields.

Meteorological forecasting has become increasingly important in managing risks across the jasmine industry chain in Hengzhou, known as China's "hometown of jasmine" and the world's largest jasmine-producing region, experts said.

"Jasmine is a crop that highly depends on the weather," said Wu Zhifu, manager at Zhonghua Jasmine Garden, a 667-hectare demonstration plantation in Hengzhou.

"On sunny days, jasmine flowers are more fragrant, and prices are naturally higher, but continuous rainy weather can greatly affect prices," Wu said, adding that flower purchase prices usually rise after three consecutive sunny days without rain.

Weather forecasting is also helping farmers reduce production costs. Wu said a timely rainfall forecast during dry seasons can save growers at least 1,500 yuan ($220) per hectare in unnecessary irrigation costs, while also preventing soil erosion and root damage caused by overwatering ahead of rainstorms.

Hengzhou has about 12,000 hectares of jasmine plantations and produces more than 150,000 metric tons of fresh flowers annually. The industry's total annual output value exceeds 23.5 billion yuan and supports the livelihoods of about 340,000 flower growers, according to local authorities.

Meanwhile, the city produces roughly six out of every 10 jasmine flowers globally, said Huang Yazhi, an official with the local jasmine industry service center. Jasmine products from Hengzhou are exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including Japan, Morocco, the United States, Russia, Malaysia and Singapore, she added.

To better support the industry, meteorological departments in the capital Nanning and Hengzhou have integrated weather monitoring and forecasting systems into a local digital jasmine platform.

The platform combines data from ground weather stations, radar and numerical forecast models to provide growers and tea producers with real-time weather information, warnings and agricultural services directly through mobile phones.