Lalitpur. The 18th Godavari Flower Competition 2082 has kicked off in Lalitpur. The expo organized by the Floriculture Association of Nepal (FLORICULTURE) began from today and will run till October 18.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, said that the government would facilitate policy-level issues to address the issues raised by floriculture entrepreneurs for the development, expansion and promotion of floriculture in Nepal.

“The private sector’s hard work for the development and promotion of floriculture business is commendable,” he said, adding that the floriculture industry should move ahead accepting the global change and practice.

Stating that the registration of figurative plants has been forwarded on the basis of the Seed Regulations implemented by the Government of Nepal, he stressed that the floriculture entrepreneurs themselves should help encourage the floriculture entrepreneurs in the country by stopping the illegal entry of flowers for the development and expansion of floriculture business in Nepal.

“The agriculture bill has been stuck as the parliament has not been able to do so, the agriculture policy has been prepared incorporating the interests of the agriculture sector, preparations are underway to send it to the cabinet,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to make policy arrangement for the insurance by assessing the risk of the business structure for the welfare of floriculture entrepreneurs.

Stating that the use of plastic flowers should be controlled and floriculture entrepreneurs should be encouraged, he said the government would pay attention to the quarantine test of agricultural and floriculture products coming from outside the country.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Vice-President Hemraj Dhakal stressed on the need of managing facilities for the development of seeds and exhibition for the promotion of floriculture. Stating that the infiltration in the Genji movement was a criminal act that could not be tolerated by the society and was not appropriate in the 21st century, he said that the government should pay attention to create business environment by discouraging this infiltration.

Chief of Floriculture Development Centre, Rabindra Thapa said the expo would not only promote floriculture but also contribute to employment opportunities. President of Floriculture Association Nepal, Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha said that the competition has been organized every year for the development and promotion of floriculture business.

There are 90 stalls in the five-day competition. Shrestha informed that the transaction of more than 40 lakhs rupees is expected to be done in the expo.