Patan (Lalitpur), Oct 15: The 18th edition of Godavari (Chrysanthemum) Flower Exhibition has begun in Lalitpur from today.
The flower fair, organized by the Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN), features a total of 90 stalls.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Dr Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, pledged policy intervention and facilitation to address the issues raised by entrepreneurs for the development, expansion and promotion of Nepal’s flower industry.
“The efforts made by the private sector in development and promotion of floricultural sector in the country in their own initiatives is commendable,” praised Dr Sharma, highlighting urgency to move forward by accepting the global changes and practices in the floriculture industry.
He underscored that the entrepreneurs should maintain quality through self-regulations.
He informed that the process to register ornamental flowers has been advanced as per the Seed Regulation. He emphasized the need to curb the illegal import of flowers and urged entrepreneurs to help promote domestic floriculture business.
Similarly, Hemraj Dhakal, Vice-President of Commodity Council in Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), called for appropriate measures and facilities for development of seeds to foster flower business.
On a different note, he opined there has been infiltration in the recent Gen-z movement and denounced the subsequent socially unacceptable and criminal activities.
He stressed the need for the incumbent interim government to enable commercial environment by discouraging such activities.
Likewise, Rabindra Thapa, Chief of the Floriculture Development Centre, expressed his confidence that the exhibition would significantly contribute to promote flower industry and employment in the floriculture sector.
FAN Chairperson Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha shared that the Association has been organizing competitive exhibitions annually for the development and promotion of flower business.
The five-day Exhibition is expected to generate more than Rs 40 million in commercial transaction, added Chairperson Shrestha.
