"Nepal: "Flower prices likely to be stable during Tihar"
The increase in flower output has been attributed to good rains and the end of the plant disease that had been affecting farms for the last few years, said traders.
The Floriculture Association of Nepal (Fan) has projected that supplies of the widely sought 1-metre flower garlands will reach 900,000 garlands during this festival season. According to the association, 700,000 marigold garlands and 200,000 chrysanthemum and globe amaranth garlands are expected to be ready for the festival.
Fan President Kumar Kasaju Shrestha said the increase in production would help to reduce imports. “We expect imports from India to shrink to 200,000 garlands from more than 250,000 garlands previously,” said Shrestha. According to Fan, the flower import bill could total Rs6 million (90,000 USD).
According to Fan, the fungal disease known as septoria had been affecting flower production for the last few years. “With our joint effort during the last three years, we have been able to eliminate the disease and educate flower growers how to control the problem in time.”
Read more at The Kathmandu Post