KATHMANDU, Feb 8: Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) has said that there is a demand for 350,000 stems of roses this year.
Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the FAN, said that 10 percent of the total demand is met through domestic production, while 90 percent of roses have to be imported from India. He said that roses were brought from India this year as in the previous years as it is not possible to meet the demand with local production.
He said that the price of red roses this year will be between Rs 80 to Rs 100 per stem. Valentine's week started on Wednesday.
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Although it is a western culture, people in Nepal also take this day with special importance in recent years. Valentine's Day falls on February 14. A red rose, which is considered a symbol of love, is celebrated by giving each other a red rose on this day.
President Tamang said that 60 percent of the total demand of roses is consumed in Kathmandu Valley and the remaining 40 percent is consumed in other cities of the country. He said that the turnover of red roses stands around Rs 35 million on Valentine's Day alone. He said that there is an annual turnover of Rs 3.7 billion worth of this flower.
Red rose is grown commercially mainly in three districts of Kathmandu Valley and Kavrepalanchowk. With the increase in the demand for flowers, about 675 different kinds of flower farms and nurseries have been expanded in 41 districts including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kaski, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Gulmi, Palpa, Dhading and Morang.
Commercially, 450 species of roses are being produced in Nepal. More than 41,000 people have benefited directly or indirectly through the floriculture business.
