Kathmandu, October 12
Nepali farmers have complained of not receiving fair prices for marigold garlands and have urged the government to fix rates ahead of Tihar.
Sahadev Basnet, a farmer from Gundu, Bhaktapur, said the value of garlands has declined despite years of hard work. “About 10 years ago, one garland sold for up to Rs 33. Now the price ranges only between Rs 18 and Rs 23,” he said.
Another farmer, Ganga Thapa, who has been cultivating marigolds for 20 years, echoed similar concerns. “With such low prices, there is hardly any profit,” she said, urging the government to fix prices just as it sets goat and sheep prices for Dashain.
She also complained about poor-quality seeds and pest infestations.
Farmer Nirmala Basnet noted that demand for garlands has increased this year, with traders visiting homes to buy them directly. “I sold 2,000 garlands last year, and I’ve already sold 1,200 this year,” she said.
Farmers Radha Thapa and Anita Basnet also complained that the absence of fixed prices benefits only middlemen, leaving both farmers and consumers at a loss. “Middlemen take all the profit. The government must set prices so farmers get fair returns and consumers are not overcharged,” they said.
