KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Around 200,000 garlands of makhamali flowers are to be exported for Tihar festival this year.
According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN), 150,000 garlands of makhamali flowers were exported last year. FAN Chairperson Dilip Bade said there is a demand for garlands of makhamali flowers especially in the US, Japan, Australia, Korea and some countries in Europe as well as in the gulf. The demand for such garlands has been increasing in other countries with an increasing number of Nepalis residing in these countries.
Floriculture has expanded in 52 districts including the Kathmandu Valley, Kaski, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Gulmi, Palpa, Dhading and Morang. However, the country has not become self-reliant on Sayapatri or marigold flowers used during the Tihar festival.
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It is estimated that around four million garlands of marigold will be needed during this year's Tihar festival. However, only 2.5 million garlands are produced within the country. The insufficient number of marigold flower garlands has to be imported from India, according to FAN.
FAN Chairperson Bade mentioned that the demand for marigold flowers is increasing by 15 to 20 per cent every year. There is a demand for 700,000 more garlands this year as compared to the previous year. Around 3.3 million garlands were sold during Tihar last year.
The floriculture sector suffered a loss of Rs 150 million this year due to the incessant rainfall that occurred in the last week of September.
A total of 450 species of flowers are being produced commercially in Nepal and more than 44,000 people have benefitted from this business, according to FAN. Floriculture is carried out on 221 hectares of land in various parts of Nepal.
