Nepal to export 200,000 garlands of makhamali flowers

KATHMANDU: Around 200,000 garlands of makhamali flowers are to be exported for Tihar festival this year.

According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal, 150,000 garlands of makhamali flower were exported last year.

Association 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.

Demand for such garlands has been increasing in other countries with an increasing number of Nepalis residing.

Floriculture has expanded in 52 districts including Kathmandu Valley, Kaski, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Gulmi, Palpa, Dhading and Morang. However, the country has not become self-dependent on Sayapatri or marigold flowers used during Tihar festival.

Around four million garlands of marigold have been estimated for this year’s Tihar festival. However, only 2.5 million garlands are produced in the country. The insufficient number of marigold flower garlands have to be imported from India, added the Association.

Chair Bade mentioned that demand for marigold flowers is increasing by 15 to 20 percent every year. There is a demand of 700,000 more garlands this year as compared to previous year.  Around 3.3 million garlands were demanded in Tihar last year.

The floriculture sector suffered a loss of Rs 150 million this year due to 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 the Association.  Floriculture is carried out on 221 hectares of land in Nepal.