Farmers engaged in the commercial cultivation of marigold flowers in the district find themselves in a state of distress as they struggle to secure an adequate market for their produce.
The surplus of marigold flowers remaining post the Tihar and Chhath festivals is now facing the threat of wilting away in the fields.
Dal Bahadur Adhikari, a farmer from Birtamod municipality-9, had ambitiously cultivated marigold flowers across more than one bigha of land. Enthusiastic about expanding his flower farming venture after successfully marketing products from a 10 kattha land last year, Adhikari’s hopes have been dashed as the increased investment failed to yield the expected returns.
Adhikari expressed his plight, citing that Indian-imported marigold flowers dominated the market during the Tihar festival. Contrary to expectations that locally produced marigold flowers and paper garlands would have a prominent presence, massive imports from India overshadowed the efforts of local farmers.
While the Calcutta-imported variety of marigold flower exhibited robust production, the lack of a substantial market resulted in significant financial losses for Adhikari. Anticipating sales worth half a million rupees, he barely managed to make Rs 70,000, despite investing over Rs 100,000 in the venture.
Adhikari lamented that extensive advertising efforts, including mobile vans equipped with audio announcements and visual displays, failed to attract the market needed for his produce.
During Tihar in the district, marigold flower transactions typically amount to Rs 10 million, complemented by Rs 100 million spent on colorful lights. However, the influx of illegally imported flowers from India has severely impacted the local market.
Local traders report that a kilogram of flowers is currently being sold for Rs 25, further complicating the situation for distressed farmers.
