Flower prices soar dramatically in Tihar festival
Summary
Prices of essential Tihar festival flowers like Sayapatri and Makhamali have surged dramatically in Bhaktapur, with retail prices more than doubling in a week due to market demand and middlemen competition.
Key Points
- Sayapatri flowers are sold at Rs 700 per kg by farmers and over Rs 1,000 per kg in local markets during Tihar.
- Makhamali garland prices have increased from Rs 25–30 to Rs 40–45 at the farmer level and retail prices have soared to Rs 100 each.
- Gundu in Bhaktapur is a key production area with 700 ropanis for Makhamali and 300 ropanis for Sayapatri cultivation.
- Price hikes are driven by competition among middlemen and suppliers, benefiting intermediaries more than farmers.
