Commercial floriculture increasing in Dang

The Marigold (Sayapatri) and Globe Amaranth (Makhamali) are blooming giving a glimpse of Tihar this time of the year. And a similar glimpse can be seen in Dang as well.

Lokendra Rokamagar, born in Rolpa Sun Chhahari Gaonpalika-7, was in Qatar a decade ago for employment. After returning home, he thought of starting a new business and came to Dang to engage in commercial flower farming.

After realizing the value of labor abroad, he decided to stay home and grow marigold instead. At first, he wondered what floriculture would be like, but after understanding the demands and conditions of the market, he started his work seven years ago by renting 6 ropani of land in Ghorahi.

He has started commercial flower farming by breaking the misconception on how picking flowers is a sin. Rokamagar says that he is very satisfied to be known as a florist now as he is constantly working hard, believing in work, and respecting labor.

"Initially, I was challenged to develop floriculture. Now, as everyone understands its importance, it has become better," said Rokamagar. He was initially engaged in flower nursery and seasonal floriculture.

He said that he started floriculture in the district after seeing the demand for flowers for festivals including Dashain, Tihar. "When I started, there was no commercial floriculture in Dang. I had seen floriculture in Kathmandu commercially and I thought why not do it here as well," said Rokamagar.

He said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Lumbini state government has provided some grants for business promotion. He says that customers come from locals and even outside the district to buy flowers on a daily basis. He informed that there is an investment of around Rs 7 lakh in floriculture which started from Rs 1 lakh. Rokamagar, who started farming by planting local varieties of flowers, has now started cultivating different varieties of flowers. Marigold flowers have bloomed in his flower garden for the festival. He is keen to make a garland of the flower for Tihar. He said that the target is to sell around 7,000 garlands for the festival.

At present, Marigold is cultivated in Tulsipur and other places of Ghorahi. Commercial floriculture has also been done in other places of Ghorahi as well.

Jaggu Bhandari, a local from Tulsipur, said that he has been cultivating centipede flowers planted in an area of ​​about seven blocks. According to him, five youths have rented land and planted different flowers in Beluwa three months ago. He said that he has started floriculture targeting Tihar. In Dang, the attraction of the youth towards commercial floriculture is increasing. Bhaskar Pangeni of Kapilvastu in Banganga Municipality has been cultivating the Maru commercially in Ghorahi Sub-Metropolis-15, Bharatpur.