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Flowers worth Rs 500 million have been sold during the Tihar festival this year with the highest transaction recorded in the Kathmandu Valley.     

President of the Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN), Dilip Bade said that transaction of flowers this year is close to the last year's transaction.     

The consumer price of a normal flower garland this year was Rs 100 on average.     

FAN president Bade said that this year the flower trade became easier during Tihar festival as the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) had fixed the venues for selling flowers. KMC had allocated 46 places from where the farmers could sell their flowers.     

It is said that the market for flowers increases from 15 to 20 percent every year, but the production growth is only 10 percent. Although the domestic production is enough to meet the market demand for 'makhamali' (globe amaranth) and 'godavari' (chrysanthemum), marigold and red rose have to be imported from India, Bade said.     

Cultivation of flower for commercial purposes has expanded to 52 districts including Kaski, Chitwan, Makawanpur, Kavrepalalnchowk, Gulmi, Palpa, Dhading, Morang and in the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley.     

According to Bade, the FAN president, flowers of 450 species are cultivated for commercial purpose. More than 44,000 people have been benefited through flower cultivation. One thousand one hundred and eighty-four farmers have done commercial flower cultivation on 221 hectares of land.

Farmers in Mustang are busy harvesting native crops, with buckwheat being a particularly popular one. Buckwheat cultivation has long been a tradition for Mustang’s farmers, who grow it for household use, religious purposes, and as gifts for relatives abroad. In Waragung, Gharpazhong, and Thasang Rural Municipalities, farmers are embracing this heritage crop. After sowing, buckwheat takes about 100 days to mature. Once harvested, it is left in the field to dry for three days before the seeds, or kena, are collected. The stems are used as animal fodder, and buckwheat is commonly prepared in various delicious dishes. While some farmers still use traditional methods to separate the kena, others have started using modern techniques.

Most Mustang farmers grow buckwheat in limited quantities for household use. From the lower to the upper Himalayan regions of Mustang, locals have been practicing this form of cultivation for centuries. Alongside other Mustang staples like barley, maize, potatoes, and beans, buckwheat has become a prominent local brand. Buckwheat farming is widespread, from Chusang in Baragung Muktikshetra-3 to Paro Thapla in Thasang-4. Both sweet and bitter varieties are cultivated in altitudes ranging from 1,984 to 3,900 meters above sea level. The cold climate in Mustang enhances the flavor and nutritional value of this native crop.

Sweet buckwheat is typically sown in Lower Mustang in early June and July, with harvesting in October. Bitter buckwheat, planted between July and August, is also harvested by early October. In Upper Mustang, sweet buckwheat is planted in April, and the harvest begins by October. The average height of a buckwheat plant ranges from 100 to 110 cm. Sweet buckwheat flowers bloom in clusters, with light black seeds, while bitter buckwheat produces white flowers. Sweet buckwheat is particularly favored for making traditional dishes like dhido and roti.

Despite its cultural importance, buckwheat is not widely grown commercially in Mustang, partly because it is less expensive than other crops. It remains a staple crop primarily for household use. According to Roshan Thakali, Agriculture Branch Officer of Gharpazhong Rural Municipality, various programs are being implemented to promote native crops like buckwheat. Recognizing its cultural significance, the local government is offering crop diversification training, subsidies, and incentives for farmers to support its cultivation.

Buckwheat offers a wealth of health benefits, with over 24 nutrients. Known to lower blood cholesterol, prevent gallstones, reduce obesity, and benefit those with high blood pressure, buckwheat is rich in minerals, vitamins, fiber, protein, and other nutrients. Many farmers in Mustang also intercrop buckwheat with apples, as it provides them with dual benefits. Niraj Thakali, a farmer in Gharpazhong, emphasized that locals have cultivated buckwheat for centuries, valuing it for its religious, culinary, and gift-giving purposes. Mustang’s native buckwheat can even be found on the menus of big hotels.

The government of Nepal has announced plans to fast-track the preparation of five key infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 72bn, with financial backing from the World Bank. In a recent meeting at the Ministry of Finance, officials outlined the swift implementation of several critical development projects aimed at enhancing the nation’s infrastructure. The five projects, funded through concessional loans from the World Bank, include key upgrades to transportation, irrigation and energy sectors.

Among the projects set to be fast-tracked are the improvement of the Bagmati-Pathlaiya section of the East-West Highway, the construction of the third bridge, and the modernization of the electricity distribution system. Additionally, the third phase of the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project and a digital service transformation project for accessibility and sustainability will also be prepared with urgency.

Nepal Airlines is set to begin Bhairahawa-Dubai flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport starting Friday, Nov 8. According to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Information Officer Gyanendra Bhul, the airline will operate a Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Dubai-Kathmandu route, with flights departing from Kathmandu at 9:30 pm on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from Bhairahawa to Dubai about 30 minutes later.

In addition to Nepal Airlines, three other international carriers—Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airways, and Thai Air Asia—are scheduled to operate flights from Bhairahawa. Thai Air Asia will commence flights on Nov 8, Fly Dubai on Nov 9, and Jazeera Airways on Nov 10.

"Currently, four airlines, including Nepal Airlines, are ready to operate from Bhairahawa," said Bhul, noting that Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, and other international airlines are also preparing to begin services from Gautam Buddha International Airport in the near future.