POKHARA, Oct 17: Draupadi Acharya from Pumdibhumdi was at Seasonal Manakamana Nursery based in Birauta to buy marigold flower on Sunday. She has come to the nursery to buy marigold. She was having problem growing marigold at her own home.
“There is belief that goddess Laxmi will bless us if the house is decorated by marigold,” Acharya said: “Flowers could not grow in my house for this Tihar, so I came here to purchase marigold to decorate my home for Tihar.”
Until marigold blooms in their gardens, people do not feel like Tihar has arrived, she said.
She not only bought marigold but also booked garland needed for Bhaitika in advance. “We could not find garland of fresh flower. Garland made from fresh flower gives better vibes than garland made by old flowers bought days ahead of Tihar,” she said: “That is why I am booking in advance.”
Just like Acharya, other Nepali girls are also in a rush to collect flowers for decoration and to weave garland for Bhaitika.
Commercial flower farming for Tihar on the rise
As Tihar begins, we can see gardens full of marigolds. Dil Bahadur Gurung of Birauta has planted marigold in four ropanis of land targeting Tihar festival. Apart from that, he has a nursery spanning over six ropanis of land. All kinds of flowers can be purchased from his nursery. He has been selling flower garlands for Tihar.
“Last year I had earned around Rs 150,000 by selling marigold flowers and garlands,” he said: “Now I expect to earn Rs 200,000 this year.”
“A single marigold flower costs Rs 5 while one unit of garland costs Rs 150,” he said: “Approximately 25 flowers grow in a single plant.”
Flowers that have been planted three months ago are now ready to pluck. He had brought saplings from America, Holland and Thailand. “In the field of agriculture, flower farming requires more hard work, however, once flowers start blooming, we feel rewarded.”
Gradually, Nepal is heading toward self-dependence in flower farming, although the supply is yet to meet the market demand. According to Daya Kumar Duwa, president of Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) Pokhara, about 20 percent of flowers required in Kaski district for Tihar festival is imported from India.
“Local production is still less in Pokhara, so flowers are brought in from Dhading, Makwanpur and other districts,” he said: “Flowers brought from other districts directly goes to Syangja, Parbat, Tanahu, Myagdi and other nearby places.
If the farmers got enough support from the government, local production could be increased and we would not have to import from India, he added. "Garland worth Rs 8 million are trades in Pokhara during Tihar festival," Duwa said.
According to him, people have been growing flowers in the district these days to decorate homes and weave garlands especially during the Tihar festival. A total of 32 farmers are involved in flower farming in Pokhara. Most of flower gardeners target only the Tihar festival, Duwa said.
