Flowers worth Rs 500m sold during Tihar festival

KATHMANDU: Flowers valued at Rs 500 million were sold during this year's Tihar festival, with the highest transactions recorded in the Kathmandu Valley.

President of the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), Dilip Bade, mentioned that this year's flower transactions were close to last year's figures. The average consumer price of a typical flower garland was Rs 100.

Bade stated that the flower trade was more efficient this year, as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) designated specific venues for flower sales. KMC allocated 46 sites for farmers to sell their flowers.

It is reported that the flower market grows by 15% to 20% annually, while production increases by only 10%. Despite domestic production meeting the market demand for 'Makhamali' (globe amaranth) and 'Godavari' (chrysanthemum), marigolds and red roses have to be imported from India, according to Bade.

Commercial flower cultivation has expanded to 52 districts, including Kaski, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Kavrepalanchok, Gulmi, Palpa, Dhading, Morang, and the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley.

Bade also stated that 450 species of flowers are cultivated for commercial purposes. Over 44,000 people have benefited from flower cultivation, with around 1,184 farmers engaged in commercial flower farming on 221 hectares of land.

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