KATHMANDU, April 17: The four-day Flora Expo 2018 organized by the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) concluded on Monday, recording transactions worth around Rs 6.2 million.

The event drew more than 60,000 visitors, according to Ramji Timalsina, FAN vice president and event coordinator.

The expo had 65 stalls showcasing over 450 species of plants and flowers, most of which were native to seven provinces of the country. Similarly, there were four 10 official, four landscaping, two food and one competitive exhibit stalls, according to the organizers.

FAN president, Kumar Kasaju Shrestha, said that the stalls featured a wide variety of plants that included seasonal, cut and dry flowers; ornamental plants, compost and chemical fertilizers, flower seeds, greenhouse, agricultural tools and technologies and packaging items.

While the expo in the past used to be a place where florists and nursery owners would get a chance to expand their horizons on business via promotion and would anticipate extraordinary sales and marketing opportunities, flower entrepreneurs do not seem satisfied with the outcome of this year's Expo. Aditya Shrestha from I am the Gardener told Republica: “We have been participating in the expo since the past three years.

Although we anticipated this year to be the most fruitful, footfall was low compared to previous years, maybe due to New Year 2075 and Mother's Day festival.” 
He also added that upper and upper middle-class population, who are the major buyers of flowers and decorative plants, usually travel or spend their time with their family during festivities like these.

According to Shrestha, they could sell plants worth only around Rs 200,000 in the expo.

A snap survey during conducted by Republica on the final day of the expo showed plants bearing fruits or flowers were high in demand. 

Bishal Khadka of Bishal Nursery said the expo was organized a bit late as blooming season is about to get over. “It is one of the reasons why we failed to get expected sales,” he added.

After flowering and fruit-bearing plants, the demand for green plants comes next followed by indoor plants. 

Most of the participating florists recorded average daily sales of Rs 15,000-25,000, the survey found.    

 
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