KATHMANDU: Floriculture is emerging as a good business avenue for the unemployed.

“The sector not only offers good business opportunity, it also offers employment to over 30,000 families where 60 per cent of the workers are women,” said Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) president Arun Chhetri at the 13th floricultural trade fair organised jointly by FAN and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) that kicked off at Bhrikuti Mandap here today.

Speaking on the occasion, FNCCI president Kush Kumar Joshi said, “Floriculture is a sector with a lot of business potential. If it were made a base for exporting flowers on a regular basis, that would help in the nation’s economic growth and increase in GDP.”

Flowers from Nepal are exported to India, Japan, Europe and Qatar. Indeed, the floriculture business in Nepal is a lucrative one. According to last fiscal year’s data, the total turnover including export was Rs 560 million in 2008-09.

Chhetri said that if developed to its full potential the floricultural sector can help immensely in the growth and development of the country’s economy. “For this to happen, the government needs to extend its support in three major areas — creating an environment for investment, opening the field to research and development and expanding services,” added Chhetri.

He said that while global warming can not be stopped it can be contained by planting flowers and trees.

There are more than 160 nurseries in Kathmandu Valley. Across the country there are at least 600 nurseries. The sector provides employment to over 30,000 people.