October 30: The commercial business of flowers in Nepal has increased by 33.5 percent in one year. According to the data of the Floriculture Association of Nepal, the flower business increased after the decline in the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic. 

In the fiscal year (FY) 2075/76, the flower business saw an annual turnover of Rs 2.42 billion, but due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the turnover slumped to Rs 1.63 billion in the following two years – FY 2076/77 and FY 2077/78. However, the business increased in the following years.

According to the association, in the fiscal year 2078/79, the turnover was worth Rs 2.3 billion, which increased to Rs 3.7 billion in FY 2079/80.

Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, said that under normal conditions, the flower business grows by 10 to 15 percent annually, but it slowed down due to Covid-19 pandemic. He says that there has been improvement since the last two years.

According to the association, at present, 221 hectares of land in 48 districts are cultivated with flowers. More than 1,000 farmers are involved in floriculture in Nepal while 44,000 people are employed directly and indirectly in this business.

According to the data of the Department of Customs, in FY 2079/80, flowers and floral products worth Rs 6.8 million were exported from Nepal while the imports accounted to Rs 33 million.

16th Godavari Flower Exhibition

The 16th Godavari Flower Exhibition is going to be held from October 31 to November 4 with the slogan 'Plant Chrysanthemum flowers, decorate your house and yard'. Aiming at the upcoming Tihar and Chhath festivals, the association is going to hold exhibition this year just like every year.

There will be 55 commercial stalls, two competitive stalls and five informational stalls in the exhibition to be held at the Jawalakhel sports ground in Lalitpur.

It is estimated that more than 40,000 people will observe the exhibition, which will be inaugurated by Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Beduram Bhusal. Fair coordinator Sitaram Panta said that they are expecting transaction of more than Rs 10 million at the exhibition. Organizers believe that this fair will help in commercial promotion of Chrysanthemum flower, development of timely varieties of flowers and to ensure quality production.