KATHMANDU, Feb 14: About 350,000 units of roses (Dutch Rose) were traded across Nepal during Valentine's week.
According to the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), more than 350,000 roses were traded across the country during this time, with a turnover of Rs 35 million.
Valentine’s week is celebrated from February 7 to February 14. Red colored stem roses are in high demand during Valentine's week.
Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) President Min Bahadur Tamang claimed that 350,000 roses were sold only during Valentine's week in Nepal.
“The trend of expressing love by offering roses to loved ones on the occasion of Valentine's Day has been increasing,” he said, “That is why there is a high demand for roses during this time.”
Not weak, wild
According to FAN, 200,000 stems of roses were sold during Valentine's week in Kathmandu Valley, while 140,000 roses were sold in other cities of Nepal.
Tamang stated that on the occasion of Valentine's Day, 90% of the roses were imported from New Delhi and Kolkata in India to meet the market demand of Nepal.
“Around 350,000 units of roses are required for Valentine's Day in Nepal. Out of that, 315,000 are imported from India. While 35,000 units of roses are produced in the country itself,” he said.
FAN President Tamang said that domestically produced roses are enough to meet the market demand in other seasons, but it is impossible to meet the market demand on the occasion of Valentine's Day without importing roses from India.
“Due to the winter season, roses cannot be produced in abundance in Nepal,” he said, “Only 10 percent of roses are produced in the country.”
Tamang stated that flower traders import roses from India by paying a price of around Rs 60 to Rs 80 per unit.
It is estimated that there is approximately business worth Rs 35 million throughout the Valentine's Day period. According to the quality of the flower, the selling price of roses per unit is around Rs 80 to Rs 120. According to FAN, about 348,000 units of roses were traded last year.
In Nepal, there is a demand for 8,000 to 10,000 stems of roses per day on normal days except during festivals. However, the production of roses has decreased in the past years due to Covid-19.
“Since Valentine’s Day falls during the winter season, the production of roses decreases due to the cold weather. Therefore, there is a situation to import more quantities of roses from other countries to meet the market demand,” President Tamang said, adding, “About 60 percent of imported roses are consumed only in the Kathmandu Valley, while the remaining 40 percent is consumed in other cities.”
Commercial farming of roses is done in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – as well as in Chitwan, Kavrepalanchok. In recent years, the commercial farming of roses has been gradually expanding in other districts as well.
In Nepal, roses are produced only when the weather is favorable. While, in the winter season, the production of roses decreases.
