2.5 million garlands needed for Tihar in capital city

            Kathmandu, Oct 19 : The Kathmandu Valley alone is in need of 2.5 million garlands for Tihar, the festival of light, colour and flower.

            However, Nepal is importing 300 thousand garlands for the festival time. Every year, the garlands are imported from India.

            It has been 23 years the competitive exhibition of godawari flower (chrysanthemum). However, Nepal is yet to be self-reliant on flowers.

            Floriculture Association Nepal’s General Secretary Bishwomani Pokharel informed that the people living in the capital city need nearly 2.5 million garlands.

            FAN Chairman Kumar Kasajoo informed that varieties of flowers amounting Rs 200 million were imported last year. The demand for flowers is growing day by day in Nepal.

            Although the Nepali flowers are demanded in Tibet, Malaysia, the US and Thailand, Nepal has not been able to produce sufficient flowers. Since 2011, private nurseries were begun and floriculture is expanded to 43 districts across the country now.