Kathmandu, October 10
With the Tihar festival approaching, farmers in Gundu, Suryabinayak Municipality–7, Bhaktapur, are busy picking flowers and making garlands.
The fields and gardens in the area are filled with marigold and globe amaranth flowers, while locals are occupied with harvesting and weaving them into garlands. This year’s Tihar festival will begin on October 18.
According to ward chairperson Rabindra Sapkota, farmers, homemakers, and flower entrepreneurs in the area have been collecting flowers and making garlands since the end of Dashain.
He said the ward office provided a 70 per cent subsidy to farmers for flower cultivation, while the remaining 30 per cent cost was borne by the farmers themselves. “We distributed marigold seedlings to 470 farmers at a 70 per cent subsidy,” he told Onlinekhabar. “The remaining 30 percent of farmers cultivated flowers on their own investment.”
Local farmer Mina Nagarkoti said the globe amaranth flowers planted in May can be harvested from August to October, and if the flowers bloom well, one ropani (about 500 square meters) of land can generate up to Rs 100,000 in a season.
Similarly, local flower grower and entrepreneur Anita Basnet said farmers are extremely busy picking flowers these days. “About 5,000 garlands can be made from one ropani of land, and even if each garland sells for Rs 25, it makes around Rs 100,000 in total sales,” she said. “Since traders now come directly to the village to buy marigold and amaranth garlands, it has become easier for farmers.”
According to her, a bunch of marigold flowers sells for Rs 10 to Rs15, while each globe amaranth garland costs between Rs 22 and 23.
Currently, Gundu’s farmers collect flowers in the morning and weave them into garlands in the afternoon for sale. Local farmers have made a significant contribution to meeting the Tihar demand for globe amaranth flowers.
Businesspeople said that marigold flowers packed in four-pathi baskets (traditional measure) sell for Rs 600 to 800 per basket. Farmers from Gundu, Sipadol, Chittapol, Tathali, Sundal, and Wageshwori in Bhaktapur are involved in commercial flower farming.
