KATHMANDU: Marigold garlands worth Rs 6 million will likely be imported to the Capital from India on the occasion of Tihar festival, the Floriculture Association Nepal informed.

The Association has estimated that the number of imported marigold garlands will go up to 200,000, which is 50,000 more as compared to the last year.

According to the Association President Kumar Kasaju Shrestha, the Tihar festival is the peak time for the import of flowers or floral items.

He further informed that this increase in import would also give benefits to the buyers as they may have  to pay up to Rs 80 per garland this time, which is Rs. 40 less than that of the last year's.

Though the country is gradually becoming self-dependent on the production of Makhamali (Globe amaranth) and Godawari (Chrysanthemum indicium), the production of marigold is still insufficient to meet the demand.

The country spends around Rs 1.5 billion every year of the import of flowers and floral products. Flower transactions worth Rs 70 million take place during Tihar in the country.

The floral business that formally began in Nepal in 1950 is gradually flourishing. Around 400 species of flowers are cultivated in 147 hectares of land. Over 41,000 people directly and indirectly benefit from floral business in the country.