Flower garlands prepared by farmers are sold for 100 to 200 rupees and 400 to 500 rupees per kilogram.
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The fields of Dola in Amargadhi Municipality-1, Dadeldhura are now covered with centipede flowers. Surat Air, who has been cultivating flowers commercially in this field, remains busy in the field as Dashain-Tihar approaches.
He started flower farming five years ago with the idea of doing something in his village instead of abroad. Surat, who is studying for a master's degree in agriculture, says, "We should be proud to use flower garlands that bloom in our own village instead of buying plastic imported garlands." His approximately one and a half ropani of land is now full of centipede flowers. He is earning a good income from this business.
In recent years, other youth here have also been attracted to flower farming. According to them, flower farming has provided employment as well as an opportunity to promote local production. Chakrasingh Mal of Katal, Parshuram Municipality-4 is one such youth. He started centipede farming in a three ropani field three years ago. He is currently producing centipede flowers of the 'Karma 555' variety. The flowers he produces during Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals are sold from Dadeldhura Bazaar to Dhangadhi. ‘The demand for flowers is increasing, but there is no one to help in market management,’ said Mal, ‘If the local government banned plastic garlands, farmers like us would be more excited.’ He said that the administration should play a role in stopping the competition from foreign garlands.
Tilak Shahi, a farmer from Dadavan, Ganyapadhura Rural Municipality-3, has been cultivating local varieties of centipedes in a three-ropani field for three years. He has been producing local varieties of centipedes. Similarly, Tekraj Pathak of Jhigani, Ajaymeru Rural Municipality-5, has been cultivating flowers for four years. He produces ‘Karma 555’ and ‘Tennis Ball’ varieties of flowers. Pathak has received support from the Agricultural Knowledge Center and the rural municipality. He said that he received tunnel assistance from the Agricultural Knowledge Center and pipes for drip irrigation from the rural municipality. He is expanding flower farming as a year-round business and sells it to Dadeldhura headquarters and Dhangadhi during the Dashain-Tihar season.
Flowers produced in Dadeldhura are now sold in the local market. Flower garlands prepared by farmers are sold for 100 to 200 rupees and 400 to 500 rupees per kg.
They have said that they have faced difficulties in market expansion as the local government has not given it priority. Similarly, entrepreneurs have said that the inconvenience of seeds and irrigation and artificial garlands imported into the market have affected their business. According to Ram Singh Bohara, Information Officer of the Agricultural Knowledge Center Dadeldhura, the office has been distributing seeds and providing technical assistance to encourage flower farming.
