Kathmandu: The 27th Flora Expo hosted by the Floriculture Association of Nepal has kicked off today. The expo, which centers around the theme ‘Floriculture for Clean Environment, Employment and Economic Prosperity’, will be held at the Bhrikutimandap exhibition hall and is scheduled to run until March 22.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the event was inaugurated by Madhusudan Paudel, the Bagmati province Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development. Minister Paudel emphasized the provincial government’s commitment to supporting and enhancing the floriculture industry. He encouraged stakeholders to propose further program and policy recommendations to aid in the sector’s growth. “Floriculture and nursery is a competitive enterprise. It has to be made tech-savvy. The plants need to be protected and new to be promoted,” he stated.
Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha, President of the Floriculture Association, noted that floriculture activities are spread across approximately 270 hectares in 52 districts, employing over 53,500 people directly or indirectly. He highlighted recent modifications and implementations in agricultural policies, addressing challenges in the domestic production of imported flowers and flower-based products.