Farmers worry as they fail to sell flowers

By Our Correspondent, Tanahun, Nov. 18:Farmers of Tanahun district have been disappointed after they failed to sell flowers even during Tihar when the demand for flowers is often high.

Flower production was high this year compared to the previous year in the district. The farmers were encouraged to produce more flowers this year seeing the domination of imported and artificial flowers in markets the previous years.

While local flowers were in high demand in the market in other parts of the country during Tihar, the businessmen in Tanahun could not find a market to sell flowers. 

The farmers said that they were worried when the flowers they failed to sell on the day of Laxmi Puja remained unsold even till Bhai Tika this year. Demand for flowers is high on the day of Laxmi Puja. Businessmen complained that the flowers were not sold even at a cheaper rate. 

Sushan Paudel, a local of Myagde Rural Municipality -5, said that they faced problems in selling flowers in Tihar this year.

“If concerned authorities do not manage to store the flowers in cold stores, the farmers will stop cultivating flowers from next year,” he said.

“If the situation of importing flowers from China and India is to be avoided, the government should arrange cold stores for flowers. Otherwise, the farmers will stop cultivating flowers from next year,” he said.

He said that the flowers he planted in four ropanis of land had bloomed, but they remained unsold.

Paudel said that even half of the flowers he produced were not sold.

He said, “I had expected to sell flowers worth Rs. 200,000 this year. But it was difficult to get customers to buy flowers at a cheaper rate, and  I sold flowers worth only Rs. 50,000.”

Srijana Tiwari, a resident of Vyas Municipality-13, said that she had to sell garlands at half the price.

She said that a garland of marigold was sold at Rs. 50 this year while it was sold at Rs. 100 last year.

Similarly, a garland of makhamali was sold at Rs. 100 this year while it was sold at Rs. 200 last year. Businessman Bijaya Paudel said that there was a problem in selling flowers this year as more farmers grow flowers this year.