Kathmandu. With the beginning of Tihar, the second biggest festival of Nepalis, the sale of flowers has also increased. With the beginning of Tihar, which is the festival of flowers and colors, the sale of flowers has increased.

Lately, Nepal has become self-reliant in floriculture that is used after worship, marriage, reception, farewell and even after death. Although floriculture has been started in Nepal since 2011 BS, it has taken a commercial form after the 2050s.

The number of people engaged in commercial floriculture has been increasing in Nepal since the last decade. The number of people involved in floriculture has increased along with other sectors of agriculture as the floriculture business generates good income. Similarly, the number of flower farmers is increasing due to the high use of flowers. Commercial cultivation of marigolds and velvet used during the festival is done as they generate sufficient income in a short period of time.

There is a lot of flower trade, especially during the festival. President of Nepal Floriculture Association Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha said that more than 40 lakh garlands are sold in the Kathmandu Valley alone during Tihar. According to him, the use of flowers is increasing in Nepal and floriculture business is being started by renting land from nursery. Floriculture is taking place in major cities of all seven provinces and 52 districts of the country with the rapid development of urbanization, said Shrestha.

“Nepal’s environment is conducive for flower farming,” he said. Flower farming has been done in around 270 hectares of land across the country. Shrestha said that more than Rs 8.83 billion has been invested in the floriculture business and 53,500 people have been provided employment.

The demand and supply of floriculture has grown by more than 10 percent annually. Although the floriculture business has been affected during the coronavirus pandemic, the floriculture business is gradually gaining momentum. In the fiscal year 2080/81, the transaction was over Rs 3.68 billion, while in the year 2081/82, the transaction was Rs 3.37 billion.

According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, the annual turnover of floriculture and floriculture products was Rs 10.212 million in the year 2080/81 while the export was worth Rs 21.36 million in the year 2081/82. The flowers produced in Nepal are exported to Japan, Hong Kong, the USA, Australia, Qatar, Canada, the UAE, among other countries, according to the Association.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has decided to ban the import of flowers from abroad in order to promote the flowers produced in the country. Organizing a press conference a few days ago, KMC Police Chief Rajunath Pandey said that the KMC has taken the policy of banning the import of flowers.