February 9: Roses worth almost Rs 25 million have been imported into the country within a week for the Valentine's Day. According to the data of Nepal Floriculture Association, 260,000 stem roses worth Rs 24.7 million were imported from India for the Valentine's Day.

It is estimated that 280,000 stem roses (both imported and local) will be traded in Nepal throughout the period of Valentine’s Day.

The association estimates that 168,000 stem rose alone will be consumed in the Kathmandu Valley while 112,000 stem roses will be consumed in the cities outside the valley. Last year, on the occasion of Valentine’s Day, 277,000 stem roses were traded in Nepal.

According to Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, domestic production will meet 7 percent of the total market demand for roses this time. The rest of 93 percent of the demand will be fulfill by importing roses from India.

A few years ago, Nepal used to import 65 percent of the roses needed for Valentine's Day from India while the rest of 35 percent demand was met by roses produced in the domestic market of Nepal. Tamang said that the import in recent years has skyrocketed due to the Covid-19 pandemic as some florists left the business while others reduced their investment. The domestic production is expected to increase from next year as the pandemic has already subsided.

Last year, the price of rose was between Rs 80 to Rs 100 per stem. This year, the roses are being sold for Rs 80 to Rs 120. In Nepal, there is a demand for about 10,000 steam roses even on normal days except for festivals.

According to the Nepal Floriculture Association, the commercial farming of roses in Nepal is done in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Chitwan and Kavre, while its cultivation has started expanding in other districts as well.