Flower prices to rise during Tihar

KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Kathmandu Valley is likely to face shortage of flowers this Tihar due to drop in production largely due to prolonged monsoon.

As compared to previous year when local production could meet almost 80 percent of the festive demand, production of flowers like marigold has dropped by around 40 percent.[break]

“The production of marigold -- the highly sought after flower during Tihar - has gone down by as much as 40 percent this year. This could make flowers expensive by Rs 10 to Rs 20 per garland,” said Dilip Bade, vice-president of Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN).

Bade said prolonged monsoon and the arrival of the festive season earlier this year as compared to the last year are the major reasons behind shortage of flowers this year.

FAN estimates that the demand for flowers this year will stay around 350,000 to 400,000 garlands, up by around 50,000 garlands as compared to the last year.

According to Bade, florists will need to import 40 percent of the total demand for marigold this year. “According to our estimates, Nepal will need to import marigold worth Rs 8-10 million from India this year,” Bade said.

Last year, Nepal had imported flowers worth around Rs 7 million from India during Tihar.

Flowers for Tihar mostly come from Indian cities like Kolkata and Siliguri. Florists also source flowers from Kavre, Dhading and Sindhupalchowk districts as well as farms in the outskirts of the Valley. While flowers like marigold are imported from India, Gomphrena Globosa (Makhmali) is supplied by local farms.

Makhmali is a most for Bhai Tika ritual on the final day of the five-day festival.

Florists say marigold garland this year will be dearer by as much as Rs 50 per garland as compared to the last year. An attendant at Daffodil Flower Shop, Kamaladi told Republica that price of marigold could be priced between Rs 50 to Rs 100 per garland depending on demand-supply situation. Marigold generally costs Rs 10 to Rs 15 per garland.

“The price of almost everything increases during festive seasons. It is obvious for flower prices to rise,” the attendant said.

According to florists, Makhmali will cost around Rs 25 to Rs 40 per garland this year as the entire demand can be fulfilled by local production.

Though Nepal needs to fulfill major chunk of marigold demand through imports, florists say the price will not increase much because there has been a healthy rise in production in India - the major source country.

“Imported flowers will not be expensive this year as flower production has increased in India this year,” said Deepak Srivastav, a flower importer. According to Srivastav, imported marigold will cost up to Rs 45 per garland.