As love blossoms in the air on Valentine’s Day, Nepal finds itself turning to its southern neighbour, India, to satiate the soaring demand for the quintessential symbol of affection – red roses.
With over 3 lakh stems of long-stem roses crossing the border from India, the Nepal Floriculture Association President, Bahadur Tamang, sheds light on the unprecedented surge in demand.
“The demands for red roses stand at 3,00,500. Only 10% of the total demands are met by local productions, and we are forced to procure over 90% roses from India to meet the demand during Valentine’s Day,” Tamang told a national news agency, on Wednesday.
Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata emerged as the principal hubs, channelling an abundance of crimson blooms to Nepal’s eager romantics.
Despite efforts to bolster local production, a mere 23,000 rose stems are anticipated to be fulfilled domestically, leaving a substantial gap to be filled by Indian imports.
The allure of a long-stem rose comes at a price tag ranging from Rs 80 to Rs 100, a small token for expressing boundless love and affection.
With Kathmandu accounting for 60% of the demand, the rest will find their way to enamoured hearts across the nation.
Amidst the backdrop of a receding pandemic, there is a palpable sense of excitement among the youth, reminiscent of pre-Covid celebrations.
“We failed to produce the roses to meet the domestic demands,” Tamang concedes, highlighting the demand surrounding Valentine’s Day festivities.
The projected rose trading around Valentine’s Day surpassed Rs 30.50 million.
Reflecting on past trends, Tamang notes a significant upsurge compared to last year’s sales of 100,800 stems during Valentine’s Day, buoyed by the absence of pandemic-induced apprehensions.
On an average day, Nepali traders typically sell out eight to 10,000 red roses.
However, as cupid’s arrow finds its mark and hearts beat in unison, this Valentine’s Day promises to be an affair to remember, with the fragrance of red roses mingling with the spirit of love and togetherness.
