Florists ‘left
in lurch’ in absence of policies
KATHMANDU, September 23
Around 40 entrepreneurs involved in flower business
in the major cities of Nepal feel that they have
been left in the lurch in the absence of concrete
policies to commercialise floriculture for substantial
gains.
Minerwa Bista, president of Floriculture Association
of Nepal (FAN), said that the entrepreneurs involved
in flower business have been supporting themselves
despite getting no assistance from the government.
Dr. Udayaraj Sharma, Director General of Dept.
of Plant Resources, however, does not disagree.
He said that the government has not done anything
to uplift floriculture.
Gladiolus, Gerbera, Rose, Fuschsia Hybrid and Antirrhinum
are the main flowers which sell well. Dr Umid pun
the only ornamental horticulturist in Nepal, said
neither the government nor the businessmen have
shown the vision for the promotion of floriculture
in Nepal. The retailers and the growers do not have
adequate knowledge of how to protect flowers from
wilting. Since floriculture sector is gradually
expanding, it will have to face keen competition
in the near future if the business is to move out
to the international market. To meet those challenges
the entrepreneurs need to focus on different aspects.
Chandra Kumar Golcha, director of Flora Nepal,
also agrees that the floral business needs to be
guided by some effective policy.
