Sushila Bista of Matiyari, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-6, has begun earning a substantial income through commercial floriculture. Having registered her farm, she has been engaged in commercial flower cultivation for the past two years, and sales have now become a reliable source of income.
Bista, who has leased two bighas of land for flower farming, said that her annual turnover from flowers reaches up to NRs 2 million. After deducting all expenses, including wages for workers, she saves around NRs 8,00,000 annually. Flowers are produced year-round, and this year alone she recorded sales worth around NRs 1 million during Dashain and Tihar.
“The prices vary depending on the season. Flowers are sold at NRs 150 to NRs 500 per kilogram, and garlands from NRs 60 to NRs 100 each,” she said. With a family of four, the income from floriculture has made her household expenses manageable, helped her save comfortably, and provided her with self-employment.
Bista started flower farming after receiving a week-long training provided by Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City. She produces marigold, rose, tuberose, sunflower, supari flowers, and others. She has also provided employment to eight people who are paid a daily wage of NRs 600 each.
Despite the good income, she said obtaining quality seeds and fertilizers remains a challenge. She has received subsidies for plastic tunnels, irrigation boring, and drip irrigation from the Agriculture Development Directorate and Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City. Mentioning that there is no insurance policy for floriculture, she added that having such insurance would make flower farming even easier for farmers.
