Tihar nears, demand for marigolds and globe amaranth rises as farmers struggle to keep up

Demand for marigold flowers has risen as Tihar approaches, and farmers in Dhankuta are finding it difficult to meet market demand.

Khagendra Paudel of Namjang in Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality-6 estimates his 10 ropani of marigold will yield around 10 tonnes of flowers. He says the flowers sell for roughly 350 to 400 rupees per kilogram and are supplied from the local market to Birtamod, Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, Butwal and Kathmandu.

Paudel estimates he will earn more than 3.5 million rupees from the crop, but says demand far exceeds his production. Pravin Pakhrel of Dhankuta Municipality-7, who has planted marigold on about one ropani, is targeting earnings of nearly 100,000 rupees.

In Ilam, the first Godawari flower exhibition fair is being held near Chok Bazaar in Ilam Municipality-7 from Kartik 18 to 21. The four-day fair was organized by the Flower Culture Association Nepal, Ilam, to showcase Godawari flowers, local produce and the potential of the floriculture business.

Traders say more than 5 million garlands are sold in the Kathmandu Valley during Tihar alone. This year, consumption of marigold, globe amaranth, Godawari and mixed garlands in the Valley is estimated at nearly 5.18 million.