Velvet flower garlands are more used and demanded during Tihar. But according to the demand, the flower farmers have not been able to get a reasonable price.
What you should know
Tihar, the festival of flowers, is approaching. In Tihar, garlands of velvet, hundred leaf, Godavari flowers are mostly used. Most of the farmers of Bhaktapur's Suryavinayak Municipality ward number-7, Gundu, are currently busy picking velvet flowers and making garlands.
Velvet flower garlands are more used and demanded during Tihar. But according to the demand, the flower farmers have not been able to get a reasonable price.
Most of the farmers in Gundu have cultivated velvet flowers. Farmer Sahdev Basnet complained that he did not get a fair price for his garlands according to his hard work in the last year. He said that the price of garlands has been decreasing gradually for the last three/four years. According to him, till 10 years ago, the price of rosary was up to 33 rupees. But at present garlands are sold at Rs 18 to Rs 23 per head, he said.
Farmer Ganga Thapa's complaint is similar to Basnet's. She also said that she was not able to get the price of the garland as she was sorry. She has been cultivating velvet for 20 years and said that she has not been able to make much profit from garlands. She also demanded the government to determine the price of garlands. He said that the government should also determine the price of garlands during Tihar, just as the government determines the price of goats during Dashain.
Farmer Nirmala Basnet said that the demand for garlands is more this year than last year. He said that the merchant would come to the house to get garlands. She informed that 1,200 garlands have been sold this year.
Flower farmers have pointed out the need for the government to monitor the market. He said that due to the middlemen, the farmers are not getting the right price and the consumers are facing high prices.
