Kathmandu, March 22:

Public response to the first Cymbidium Orchid Show 2009 organised by the Cymbidium Orchid Growers’ Group (CYMOGG) that opened on March 21 and concluded here today was overwhelming. The group is hopeful of making cymbidium orchid a major exportable floriculture product within 10 years. “At present, we have exported samples of cymbidium orchid to Arabian countries and Singapore but as they have high demand we are unable to grow the required quantity due to little cultivation at the local level,” said Rajendra Rai, chairman of CYMOGG.

According to Rai, there is great demand for cymbidium orchid in the international market. Nepali growers have good chances of supplying enough to meet the domestic demand but they have better chances of getting high prices in the international market if quantity and quality standards are up to expectations.

In Nepal, nine nurseries are involved in growing the orchid under the One Village One Product (OVOP) in Lalitpur district. “The geo-climatic conditions prevalent at altitudes between 1300-1700m are best suited for growing cymbidium orchid. With adequate inputs like planting materials and technical training, cymbidium orchid can become the new export item from Nepal,” said Rai.

According to CYMOGG, more than 5,000 people visited the two-day cymbidium orchid show which had 100 varieties of cymbidium classed into four categories.

Nepal has 385 species of orchids under 102 genres and the number is increasing every year.

Experts have categoried the orchid into three groups plus another one: Standard — priced at Rs 3000 onwards, Intermediate —priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, Miniature — priced between Rs 800 and 1,000 and Pendulous which is the cheapest of all.

According to Rai, by next year CYMOGG will have more than 50 members. CYMOGG is the group of cymbidium orchid growers united under the cymbidium orchid cultivation programme of the government’s OVOP movement.