Import of marigold garlands worth Rs 6 million for Tihar

Kathmandu, Oct 24: The Capital will likely see an import of marigold garlands worth Rs 6 million this Tihar Festival. Floriculture Association Nepal has estimated that this time the import of marigold garlands from India will go up compared to the last time. The Association plans to import 200,000 garlands which is more by 50,000 compared to the last year.
The peak season for the import of flower and floral items is the Tihar, according to Association President Kumar Kasaju Shrestha. Consumers may have to pay up to Rs 80 per garland this time. During last year, the price of a garland was up to Rs 120. Though the country is gradually becoming self-dependent on the production of Makhamali (Globe amaranth) and Godawari (Chrysanthemum indicium), the production of marigold is still insufficient to meet the demand. The Country spends around Rs 1.5 billion every year on the import of flowers and floral products. Flower transactions worth Rs 70 million takes place during Tihar in the country.