Florists say local production meets about 60 percent of the market demand and the rest is imported from various Indian cities.[break]
“Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN) has already placed order for 100,000 stems of rose,” said Kumar Kasaju Shrestha, vice-president of the association and proprietor of Chabahil-based Kathmandu Nursery.
The association had imported 150,000 stems for Valentine´s Day last year. According to FAN officials, the demand for red rose, which is widely used to express love especially on Valentine´s Day, had dropped by 20 to 25 percent last year. They, however, are hopeful that the demand will increase this year.
“People have realized the romantic sentiment red roses carry. It represents true love that cannot by expressed by other gift items. This has led to rise in demand for rose for this year´s Valentine´s Day,” said Dilip Bade, secretary general of FAN. Bade, who runs Jay Kishan Nursery at Battisputali, said the demand for red rose increases exponentially in the run up to the Valentine´s Day.
Unlike past years, the association expects price of rose stems to remain unchanged this year. While local rose is available for Rs 25-30 per stem, imported Dutch rose is priced in range of Rs 50-60 per stem.
“Though rose price hasn´t increased, traders may increase on Valentine´s Day because customers are ready to buy roses even at higher price,” Shrestha added.
The price of rose is determined by the length of its stem -- longer the stem, higher is the price.
Rama Kharel, who runs a flower shop at New Baneshwor Department Store, plans to raise the price of rose to Rs 50 per stem on Valentine´s Day. “Normally, I sell around 100 flowers and bouquets. On Valentine´s Day, I generally sell about 800 flowers and bouquets,” she added.
Rose comes in the market generally from farms in Makawanpur, Kavre and Chitwan districts. Florists also import the flower in substantial quantity from Indian cities like Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune.
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