18th Godavari Flower Exhibition 2082 kicks off

Patan (Lalitpur), Oct 15: The 18th edition of Godavari (Chrysanthemum) Flower Exhibition has begun in Lalitpur from today. The flower fair, organized by the Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN), features a total of 90 stalls. Inaugurating the exhibition, Dr Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, pledged policy intervention and facilitation to address the issues raised by entrepreneurs for the development, expansion and promotion of Nepal's flower industry. "The efforts made by the private sector in development and promotion of floricultural sector in the country in their own initiatives is commendable," praised Dr Sharma, highlighting urgency to move forward by accepting the global changes and practices in the floriculture industry. He underscored that the entrepreneurs should maintain quality through self-regulations.

He informed that the process to register ornamental flowers has been advanced as per the Seed Regulation. He emphasized the need to curb the illegal import of flowers and urged entrepreneurs to help promote domestic floriculture business. Similarly, Hemraj Dhakal, Vice-President of Commodity Council in Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), called for appropriate measures and facilities for development of seeds to foster flower business.