KATHMANDU, Feb 15: During this year’s Valentine’s Day week, rose flowers worth around Rs 70 million were traded.
According to the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), about 500,000 stems of roses (Dutch roses) were consumed during the Valentine’s Day week that ran from February 7 to 14.
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According to the FAN, the average market price of a single rose was Rs 140. Based on this price, the total economic turnover during this year’s Valentine’s Day is estimated at Rs 70 million.
Due to low domestic production, local output meets only about 30 percent of market demand. To fulfill the remaining 70 percent, roses have to be imported from India and other countries.
Rose consumption was highest in major cities such as Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan, Butwal, and Biratnagar. As the younger generation especially uses roses to express love, flower shops saw crowds from early morning.
According to traders, this trade has provided significant economic support to Nepal’s floriculture business. However, experts suggest that if domestic production could be promoted, such a large outflow of money could be prevented.
