KATHMANDU: Farmers in Chhmlishwara, Myagde Rural Municipality-4, Tanahun, are facing uncertainty as their marigold crops have bloomed earlier than expected. The farmers, who timed their planting for the Tihar festival, are now concerned about whether they will be able to sell their produce after the flowers blossomed immediately following Dashain.
A group of 23 farmers under the Chandeshwori Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Group has expanded their cultivation area to 16 ropanis, triple the size of last year. Last year, the group earned Rs 450,000 from six ropanis of land. With the increased scale, they set a sales target of Rs 1.5 million this year. However, the delay in the Tihar festival schedule has left them anxious about market demand and potential impacts on flower quality.
Jitmaya Rana, president of the farmers group, stated that they expanded production due to high demand last year, but the early blooming and concerns over weather forecasts have created significant uncertainty. The farmers also highlighted ongoing issues with market pricing and intermediaries. Last year, they sold flowers at Rs 300 per kilogram, but they noted that traders sold them to consumers at much higher prices.
Consequently, the farmers have requested that local authorities establish dedicated market spaces or organized sales centers to connect producers directly with consumers.
By shifting from traditional crops like maize and black gram to marigold farming, these women have sought better economic opportunities. They emphasized that without a proper system to manage sales and eliminate middlemen, their efforts to promote domestic production may not yield the expected financial returns.
