Imports of red rose targeted for upcoming Valentine Day in Nepal are likely to surge this year with a fall in domestic production.
According to the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), an additional 50,000 units of red roses is estimated to be imported this year for the annual February 14–the day marked for expressing love to one another. As compared to the demand last year of 180,000 units, the demand is likely to go up to 250,000 units, according to the FAN.
FAN President Min Bahadur Tamang said the production this year has plunged due to low investment triggered by the effect of COVID-19 and unfavorable weather conditions for the past few days. “As a result, domestic production hardly fulfills 10 percent of total demand, which used to cover around 20 percent in the past,” Tamang said.
Tamang said about 40 percent of the flowers bought for Valentine Day are sold in the valley. This year, the price of red rose is expected to hover between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per stick. Every year, the flowers worth around Rs 20 million are transacted during the period.
The annual turnover of flowers in the country stands at Rs 1.5 billion. A large amount of it is spent on flowers imported from India due to decline in the domestic production.
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