Flora expo to begin today

KATHMANDU:

Flora entrepreneurs are set to showcase their products in the 18th Flora Expo, which is going to commence here from tomorrow at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall.

The four-day expo will have 65 flora stalls, 10 information desks and three garden plant stalls, as per Kumar Kasajoo Shrestha, convener of the Flora Expo.The expo is being organised on the initiative of the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) in a bid to promote flora entrepreneurs in the country aiming to make them self-reliant in this business. It is reported that more than 450 varieties of flowers, including seasonal garden plants will be exhibited in the expo.

After introducing Flower Promotion Policy in 2012, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) has been providing financial support for the expo as part of policy implementation, according to FAN.

There are a total of 675 nurseries or flower farms in operation in 38 districts of the country at present. Flower farming has covered 141 hectares of land and is generating employment for 41,000 individuals.The country, however, still imports flowers and its import value in the previous fiscal 2013-14 stood at Rs 40 million.

Source:THT