Lok Nath Gaire, president of Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN), said they had to import red rose from India as local production meets only about 20 percent of the market demand. “Demand has increased exponentially; domestic production alone cannot meet the demand,” Gaire said. [break]“As Valentine´s Day is a daylong celebration, it is difficult to produce rose targeting that very day.”
FAN estimates red roses worth about Rs 10.3 million in sold on this Valentine´s Day which falls on Thursday. For the day, florists import Dutch rose especially from Indian cities like Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune. Domestic supplies generally come from Makawanpur, Kavre and Chitwan districts.
“We had to import the flower as winter is not favorable for rose production,” Dilip Bade, secretary general of FAN said. “If Valentine´s Day would have been on April or May, we would have been self-sufficient on red rose.”
Traders expect price of red rose to increase this Valentine´s Day as they are importing the flower from India. “A stem of Dutch rose is currently available in range of Rs 50 to Rs 60,” Padam Khadka, proprietor of Design´s Fresh Flower Shoppe, said. “But the price will certainly increase on Valentine´s Day.”
Design´s Fresh Flower Shoppe generally sells 500 to 500 stems of roses. But on Valentine´s Day, it expects to sell around 2,000 stems.
Flower traders expect the price to climb as high as Rs 100 per stem on Valentine´s Day. “Dutch rose has become expensive in India itself due to rise in demand,” added Khadka.
However, Shilpa Shrestha, proprietor of Moon Light Flower and Gift Shop, Kamaladi, said, people will buy red rose regardless of the price.
“Though there are varieties of gifting options - from key rings, couple mugs, teddy bears and chocolates to mobile phones, diamonds and dinner packages offered by restaurants and hotels, people still prefer to give their loved ones red rose as nothing can spell love and romance as much as red roses do,” Shrestha added.
Moon Light Flower and Gift Shop expects to sell around 4,000 stems this Valentine´s Day, up from average daily sales of around 200 stems.
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