Cut Flowers Business in Nepal

In Nepal, the major cut flowers that are produced to fulfill the market demand are categorized as following: 1. Throughout year production: (production is all the time); Gerbera, Rose, Carnation, and Gladiolus. 2. Seasonal production: (production is more than three months in a year); Chrysanthemum, Tuberose and Birds of paradise. 3. Yearly production: (production is only once in a year in a defined time); Amarlies, Antirrhinum, Asrtromeria, Calla, Celocia, Chincherinchee and Daffodils.

Cut flower business has been centralized in the Katmandu valley. This localization is mainly due to access to consumer-orientation and favorable natural conditions. By and large, the establishment of such industries takes place wherever consumers with sufficient purchasing powers are living. The existence of most of the hotels, big business houses and international houses helps to encourage the establishment of these industries in Kathmandu rather than in other places.

Similarly, the topological and climatic conditions prevalent within the valley support the establishment of floricultural enterprises. Cut flower business has shown steady and continuous development in Nepal. Due to urbanization and modernization, the demand of the cut flower has increased tremendously. In view of unmet demand for cut flowers, there is ample scope for promotion of this business within Kathmandu valley. Promotion of domestic production is expected to substitute cut flowers imported by hotels and other consumers, from India.

Production of cut flower has been categorized into two seasons i.e., summer season and winter season. In summer season, the demand of flower has been fulfilled by the Nepalese growers whereas in winter, wholesalers/retailers import flowers from India, as demand is not achieved by the Nepalese production. During the summer, the demand of the cut flower is accomplished by production within Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur. During winter season the demand is partly fulfilled from production in Terai [Gauchan et.al. (2009) <i>Current Status of Cut Flower Business in Nepal</i> Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, vol.5, no.1, pp. 87-98.]