Prepared by: Sabin Bhattarai
B.Sc Ag 4th sem
College of natural resource management, sindhuli
Abstract
In this paper an attempt has been made to cover all the aspects of status of floriculture including the present scenario, prospects and different factors. This paper offers the information regarding the status of current market, area of production and demands of different flowers in Nepalese market, which facilitates persons to make up their mind to figure out the floriculture business in Nepal. Cut flower business has flourished in Nepal compared to yesteryears, but the development is not enough to fulfill the demand of consumers. The production decreases during the winter season in comparison to summer season.
Key words: Floriculture, yesteryears, cut flower.
Introduction:
Floriculture, or flower farming, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering of ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. The development, via plant breeding, of new varieties is a major occupation of floriculturists. Floriculture crops include bedding plants, house plants, flowering garden and pot plants cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. As distinguished from nursery crops, floriculture crops are generally herbaceous. Bedding and garden plants consist of young flowering plants (annuals and perennials) and vegetable plants.
Plant seeds, seasonal flowers, cut flowers, dry flowers etc. are planted under the floriculture sector. Seasonal flowers also grow flowers in the intense season and after planting flowers, they plant the plants, but the other plants are always living, but the flower only flies in their season. The cut flower means that the flower is kept for a long time after it has been cut in the water, such flowers are called cut flowers. Similarly, if flowers are dried and used, such flowers are called dry flowers. In addition to the overall use of the home or outside of the house, used in the city, office decor, marriage, fasting, pasta etc., based on good wishes for exchanging, departure, reception, and dissemination, at the temple, mosque, church house, and for use. Assistant goods are under the production, decoration and sale of fluorescents
Although the geographical area is small, it is very conducive to biological diversity. In the proportion of world map, Nepal is only 0.15 cubic area. There is a population of 5,500 species of flowers in Nepal with which 24 species are not found in other countries. This number is 2.2 percent of 250000 species present in the today’s world. There are 635 nurseries in Nepal, which are trading in different ways including Plants, Decorations, Gardens. Since Nepal consists of biodiversity, any types of flowers can be grown easily. Due to the favorable climate, cheap labor, and suitable soil, floriculture can be one of the prominent enterprises especially in hills and inner plains. For the promising development of Floriculture, the cut flower has played significant role in Nepal. Cut flower is an emerging business having a short history in Nepal. It started from Kathmandu and expanded to cities like Biratnagar, Dharan, Chitwan and Pokhara. For the upliftment and promotion of the flower business the FAN (Floriculture Association of Nepal) was established in collaboration with AEC (Argo-enterprises Centre) in 15th November 1992 with 10 founder members from nurserymen and people interested in floriculture at the C.D.O. office of Lalitpur district. FAN now having 208 members from all over Nepal. The floriculture wholesale market was established in August 31, 1998 by FAN.
Objectives
The immediate objective of the study is to access the status and potentialities of floriculture sub-sector. The study also focuses on the updating of information on floricultural products for the benefits of policy makers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders. This review also helps in the SWOT analysis: strengths (S) and weakness (W) of the entrepreneurs and opportunities (O) and threats (T) of the markets. The study also focuses on the present aspects on the floricultural sub-sector and to know about the condition of Nurseries, floriculture shops and about the export and import of flowers.
Methodology
The article was prepared based on the review of finding relevant researches and investigations done in Nepal which are published in journal. Online sites of different organizations such as Floriculture Association Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, different books and Googles was the other source of knowledge for this paper.
Importance of Floriculture
– As Floriculture deals with the culture of flowers and ornamental plants, it has great importance in our daily life as well as national economy.
-General importance of flower
Flowers help getting out of illness through psychological enchantment.
Flower gardens increase beauty of the house or an institution.
Scent and perfumes are extracted from the fragrance of flowers e.g., Rose water, Attar.
It is the source of incentive to the poets and writers.
Flower is a national symbol. Rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal.
Flower increases the aesthetic sense of human being and satisfies demand of heart feelings.
Its beauty and fragrance give happiness to all irrespective of age and wealth.
It is the principal component of public functions and anniversaries and extensively used for decoration.
Flower gardening is a good medium of passing leisure time and help keeping good health.
-Economic importance of flower production
Perfume industries can be established in the country which can help improving national economy.
Flowers can be a source of earning huge foreign currency by exporting them.
Flowers can be considered as a commercial commodity. Commercial flower production may be helpful in increased earning of the grower.
Establishment of flower production farms and perfume industries can help solving unemployment problem to a large extent.
It provides scope to bring more unused land under flower cultivation.
Scope of flower cultivation
Potted foliage and flowering plants are less perishable and has advantage over cut flowers. As most of the important foliage and flowering plants are native to the tropical region, they can successfully be grown in Nepal as well as for export from Nepal.
Nepal has a very good potentiality to become an important supplier of flower and ornamental plants to different countries of Asia, Middle East and Europe.
The ago climatic condition is well suited for growing many flowers and foliage plants in Nepal.
Since Floriculture is a new industry in Nepal it has a tremendous scope to develop.
Bonsai culture is a recent development in the field of floriculture in Nepal. In bonsai culture a large tree is transformed into a miniature form giving a lucrative look. Such plants have heavy demand in the society though they are expensive. To meet up local demand and for export many bonsai making farms can be established.
Cactus is a high valued ornamental crop sold in plant nurseries and shops. Some progressive nurserymen and amateurs are trying to make special types of plants like grafted cactus and bonsai in small scale. This gives a hope for trade in Floriculture.
Tissue culture technology can be exploited for developing quality seedling in many flower spp. in order to get local as well as international market.
There is a high demand of fresh flower and pot plants in Europe, America, Japan, Holland and Middle East. Recently Nepal Govt. has included flowers in the export policy. As such those flowers suitable for export such as rose, gladiolus, gerbera, tuberose, marigold, orchid etc. can easily be produced for this purpose.
Present status of Floriculture in Nepal
The geographical structure, climate change is suitable for floral business in Nepal. Floral business, which has many potentials, is also an export-oriented business. The Floriculture Association Nepal has been making the possibility of reflecting the various challenges and problems faced by the floral business since the establishment of the Floral Business, and the overall development, expansion and promotion of Floral Business in Nepal for the rights of all flower businessmen. Because of the urbanization floral business in Nepal is expanding not only in the Kathmandu valley rather it is growing in the cities like Pokhara, Narayangadh, Hetauda, Biratnagar, Dharan, Butwal, Dhangadhi, which started at normal level from 2011. Nepali Floral Business when arriving from 2074 to 75, approximately 697 floral businessmen are doing floral and floral farming has grown in 43 districts. Currently, floral business is being done in 155 hectares area, providing employment to 43500 people directly or indirectly. The floral business in 2074-75 is found as stated:
Seasonal flower-Rs.30.2863 crore
Ornamental plant: Rs.58.2659 crore
Cut flower: Rs.31.2323 crores
Landscape and Gardening: Rs. 23.8128 crores
Open flower: Rs. 10.2333 crores
Material supplied: Rs. 18.5365 crores
Others (Carpet grass, Bulb, Rhizomes, Tissue culture, Tuber): Rs. 11.5808 crores
Export: Rs.2.372 crores
With this total of 1 Billion 86 Million has been successfully traded in annual year 2074-75 in floriculture industry. Similarly, in annual year 2074-75 floral and floral material of 11 crores has been imported. Overall, the growth of Floral Businessman has been increased 10 to 15% annually. Because of the use of local resources in the flower business, local level development is increasing. Recently, the skilled and semi-employed workers involved in floral and floral business are also getting many foreign employments.
Strengths:
• Domestic production gaining momentum to cater the major parts of local market, as a result import is gradually substituted.
• High quality production with low level infrastructural facilities.
• High value addition in the country.
• Favorable geo-climatic conditions and rich in bio-diversity with topographical conditions.
• Knowledgeable and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and few established organizations.
• Availability of high value special cultivars and exotic species.
• Use of appropriate technology for quality products.
• Availability of land and labor force.
• Market linkages with neighboring countries, particularly with India.
Weakness
• Poor entrepreneurship development: farmers are not institutionalizing their business and hesitant to boost further investment.
• Lack of stability in production in type and volume as required by the markets.
• Poor fertigation system.
• Weak value chain network infrastructure including cold storages, collection center, warehouses and other distribution facilities.
• Inadequate skilled manpower.
• Insufficient financial/credit facility.
• Inadequate information on world market and trading system.
• Poor knowledge of farm management.
Opportunities:
• Upward trends in domestic market.
• Export prospects to India, Bangladesh, Gulf countries and other Asian countries
• Potential for generating additional employment.
• Growing world market demand.
• Favorable market access condition with preferential tariffs.
• Strengthened women entrepreneurs with their high involvement value chain development.
• Some supportive government initiatives. Nepal being a developing country floriculture can be the source of income which can uplift the economy of the country.
• Off seasonal production getting better market in India.
Threats:
• Restriction on import of specific fertilizers needed for the flowers and ornamental plants.
• Imposition of VAT on inputs imports by the farmers.
• Non-tariff barriers in destination markets.
• High competition due to subsidies and technical supports by the governments in neighboring and African countries, like China and India.
• Unfavorable policy and low level of financial and technical support.
• Banks and insurance companies are not interested to provide their services and facilities at priority rates.
• Labor union and political instability.
Today’s effort
At present, Floriculture is contributing 0.05%of total gross production in
Nepal. Also, the market of Floricultural business is increasing 12% every
Year so, its scope is increasing day by day. Nepal is a landlocked country
Whose climate is suitable for floricultural business so that flowers are
being exported to other countries. Because of these only, Agricultural
division of Nepal has started Chrysanthemum flower fair from 2064 for
the development, expansion and promotion of flowers. The division in
annual year 2072/73 with collaboration of Floriculture Association Nepal
has conducted a survey about the status of floriculture in Nepal.
According to survey, those who produce seasonal, perennial or
ornamental, cut flower, bulb, rhizome or tuber, loose flower and Lawn in
an area of minimum 8 anna in Mountainous or hilly district and minimum
of 10 dhur in terai region are considered as commercial flower producer.
From the survey it is found that 299 farms have been established and are
producing flowers commercially. Out of that women are operating 29%
of the total farms. Also, out of total farms only 52% of the total farms
have been registered and are producing the flowers. The survey showed
that 36 districts have been producing flowers commercially. According to
the report, around whole country around 1 crore 30 lakhs pieces of cut
flower have been produced which is maximum of all flowers produced in
Nepal past year. Similarly, 5 Lakhs pieces of seasonal flower and perineal,
loose flower, ornamental flower, lawn, bulb, rhizomes, tuber have been
produced.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Currently, area of cultivation and production is low as compared to other countries. Floriculture enterprise has good scope and flourishing speedily 12% of the people are increasing in floriculture industry every year. However, systematic development of this sector has not been started yet. But it has been started by some of the private sector as well as some persons/entrepreneurs. Hence, this sector has not got proper help from the government so that, proper research has not been done yet. Therefore, floriculture is going forward without proper researches. However, some of the researches have been carried out based on cut flowers but only this much is not enough for the flourishing of the floriculture industry in Nepal. Nevertheless, few researches have been culminated in the past by NARC, AFU, IAAS, NAST, DoPR. Hence, the government of Nepal must emphasize the farmers for the cultivation of the flowers by giving subsidies, providing proper knowledges about positives as well as negative aspects of the cultivation of flowers, providing the seeds and seedling of the flowers, by encouraging farmers the wide scope of floriculture and huge profit by producing flowers. So that, Nepal can export the flowers to the other country and can earn foreign currency which can uplift our economy.
REFERENCE
Journal published by Floriculture Association Nepal and the different journals like Floriculture Today, Agro Times, etc.
Krishi Diary, 2075
Online websites of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Floriculture Association Nepal, etc.
J.S. Arora, Introductory Ornamental Horticulture
Mamta Bohra, P.S. Arora, Introduction to Horticulture
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