Jhapa. The farmers of Jhapa, who are engaged in commercial flower farming, have demanded the administration not to allow the local marigolds to not get a market.

They have also demanded to stop the import of flowers from India and create an environment conducive for giving first priority to local production.

Commercial cultivation of Sayapatri flowers has been flourishing in the district for the past few years. However, due to the imported flowers from India, the problem of wastage of the local products has increased, said Sushma Poudel, a farmer of Birtamode.

A team of 20 commercial farmers led by entrepreneur Poudel met Chief District Officer Shrawan Kumar Pokharel on Tuesday and submitted a seven-point demand letter. In the first point of the demand letter, it has been demanded that indigenous marigolds should be given first priority in the local market.

Another demand of the farmers is that policy initiatives should be taken to stop the import of Indian flowers, saying that domestic production can meet the local demand. Farmer Poudel said that they have demanded from CDO Pokharel that the import of flowers from India should be stopped for the protection of domestic production and protection of investment.

According to the farmers, commercial cultivation of marigolds is being done in 15 to 20 hectares of land in the district. They complain that in the past, the local flowers had to suffer financial losses due to lack of proper market.

Commercial cultivation of marigolds is done in Birtamod, Mechinagar, Bhadrapur, Damak, Shivasatakshi and other areas. Farmers say that although the floriculture done with the investment of millions, labor and time has opened new doors of employment and income generation, the state has not paid enough attention to the protection of market and investment.

Rather, the flower farmers have demanded effective monitoring along the border and customs to control the illegal import from India, make arrangements for ensuring fair price and easy market for local products, encourage the use of local flowers in government offices, schools, hotels and institutions, collect real data on floriculture and make long-term plan for the expansion of the market.