KATHMANDU: The 13th Floriculture Trade Fair that began at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall on April 1 concluded today with over 55,000 visitors and more than Rs 5.5 million in collection.

“The venue was unusually crowded throughout the day today and there were mainly buyers,” said Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN) president Arun Chettri.

“The event drew an overwhelming inflow of visitors

exceeding our earlier predictions,” he added.

Floriculture is emerging as a lucrative business in Nepal with the volume of flower export to India, Japan, Europe and Qatar growing in size each year.

According to Chettri, the demand for flowers has shot

up considerably over the

past few years as more people have began to buy them. If the data from last year are anything to go by, Nepal exported flower worth Rs 560 million.

“Nurseries are doing well and flowers are selling well raising the demand over the past few years,” he added.

According to Chettri, flower industry can help boost the economy of the country but said the government needs to create a conducive climate for investment, open up research and development (R&D) and expand services in the first place.

The government is considering creating policies but the other required sectors are still being neglected, he bemoaned.

During the fair, people mostly purchased the beautifully coloured bougainvilleas and plants. Also sold like hot cakes were cut flowers.

There are over 160 nurseries in Kathmandu Valley with 600 across the country. The flower industry directly or indirectly provides employment to over 30,000 families.

There were 60 stalls in all.