Nepal's marigold market is approaching a crucial test ahead of Tihar, with demand estimated at around 4.5 million garlands while the government has stopped recommending permits to import Indian marigold garlands.
The Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) estimates that domestic growers can supply about four million garlands, leaving a projected gap of roughly 500,000. Yet the Floriculture Development Centre in Godawari stopped recommending import permits for Indian marigold garlands from OCtober 18, saying that the local production should be sufficient. It is a question of how the market will meet festival demand if the industry's shortfall estimate holds.
A Rs 645 million market
Marigold, known in Nepal as sayapatri, is among the most widely used Tihar flowers, woven into garlands for homes, temples, shops, vehicles and offices. Demand peaks around Laxmi Puja and Bhai Tika. This year, according to Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s calendar, Dhanteras falls on November 6, Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja on November 8, Govardhan Puja on November 10 and Bhai Tika on November 11.
FAN expects the Tihar flower market to generate about Rs 645 million from garlands, loose flowers and potted plants. It prices marigold garlands at an average wholesale Rs 90 each, for an estimated Rs 405 million. Marigold flower heads and plants, at 3.5 million units and Rs 30 each, add Rs 105 million. Potted chrysanthemums are put at 800,000 at Rs 75, and globe amaranth (makhamali) garlands at 600,000 at Rs 45. FAN has indicated a maximum retail price of Rs 150 for a one-metre marigold garland.
The import question
Nepal has traditionally relied on Indian flowers to fill festival shortfalls, helped by the open border and competitive costs. Estimates this season have shifted. On October 24, traders were expected to import about 200,000 garlands worth Rs 5 million. Days later, FAN put the potential gap at 500,000. By November 1, permit recommendations remained suspended, effectively preventing authorised imports of Indian marigold garlands for this Tihar. Importing without a permit would be illegal, and monitoring is to be intensified.
Imports of plant materials require entry permission from the Plant Quarantine Office under the Plant Protection Act, 2064, which is meant to keep pests and diseases out. The suspension concerns recommendations for Indian marigold garlands, although some accounts describe a wider restriction covering marigold and globe amaranth.
On October 28, a delegation of 20 commercial flower farmers led by Sushma Paudel of Birtamod gave Jhapa’s Chief District Officer Shravan Kumar Pokharel a seven-point memorandum. It asked for priority for local flowers, monitoring at border points and customs offices, fair prices, easier market access, and purchases of Nepali flowers by schools, offices and hotels. The growers put commercial cultivation in Jhapa at 15 to 20 hectares.
Where marigold is grown
FAN says more than 225 hectares are under commercial marigold cultivation across all seven provinces, in districts from Jhapa and Sunsari to Chitwan, Kaski, Tanahun, Rupandehi and Kailali. In Chitwan, the Agriculture Development Office said cultivation had risen to 44 hectares from 21.92 hectares the previous fiscal year, with 131.4 tonnes produced last year.
In Gundu, Bhaktapur, farmers harvest early in the morning and weave garlands later in the day. They say a ropani of land can earn up to Rs 100,000 a season, an estimate and not a guaranteed profit. In Tanahun, 45 women in Aabukhaireni Rural Municipality-1 expanded their collective to 45 ropanis after earning Rs 900,000 last year, and hope to sell Rs 1 million of flowers, using cold storage. In Sunsari, Arjun Bista of Barahakshetra Municipality-6 sells loose flowers at Rs 400 to 500 a kilogram to buyers from Dharan and Itahari. A farmer in Kawasoti, Nawalpur, said the number of commercial growers had tripled this year.
Weather, timing and prices
Farmers face several pressures. Marigolds generally flower 50 to 70 days after sowing, so planting must be timed to the festival. Because Tihar falls relatively late this year, flowers in Chhimliswanra, Magde Rural Municipality-4, Tanahun, bloomed about a week early, and growers fear they will wilt before the peak days. FAN said rain and floods from September 25 to 27 damaged crops in several districts, and rain on October 9 to 11 also caused damage. Marigold tolerates waterlogging poorly, and high humidity raises the risk of flower rot.
Price gaps are another complaint. Jitmaya Rana, chairperson of the Chandeshwari Fruit and Vegetable Producers’ Group in Myagde, Tanahun, said farmers there sell for Rs 300 a kilogram while the same flowers retail at Rs 800 to 1,000. Transport, storage, labour and losses account for part of that difference, but the gap raises questions about how value is shared. Farmers also cite a lack of cold storage, short seasonal demand, difficulty obtaining quality seeds and mother plants, and weak market access.
A wider industry
According to FAN, commercial flower farming takes place in 54 districts, involving more than 1,485 businesses and investment above Rs 11.5 billion. It supports over 62,500 direct and indirect jobs.
Customs figures show flower and related imports of Rs 261.372 million in FY 2024/25 against exports of Rs 11.578 million, about 22 times higher, though these cover all floral products, not just marigold.
Nepal is self-sufficient in makhamali, FAN says, with about 400,000 of 600,000 expected Tihar garlands for domestic use and 200,000 for export. About 200,000 were exported in 2024, up from 150,000 in 2023, mainly to Nepali communities abroad.
What remains to be seen
The restriction could help local growers if the harvest is enough and reaches buyers at the right time. If it falls short, consumers could face scarcity or higher prices.
