Valentine’s Week: Nepal to consume 450,000 roses as prices rise to Rs 150 per stem

Nepal is expected to see a sharp surge in demand for roses during the Valentine’s Day season, with an estimated 450,000 rose stems likely to be consumed across the country during the week-long celebration, according to the Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN).

FAN said the demand for roses, particularly Dutch roses, is projected to peak between February 7 and February 14, a period widely observed as Valentine’s Week. The association expects strong sales throughout the week as consumers purchase flowers for gifting, decorations, and celebrations.

Despite the high demand, Nepal will once again remain heavily dependent on imports this season due to unfavorable winter weather conditions that have slowed down domestic production. FAN said cold temperatures delay the blooming process of roses, resulting in lower output and limiting local farmers’ ability to meet market demand.

According to FAN, domestic production is expected to supply only around 30 percent of the total demand during Valentine’s Week. The remaining 70 percent will have to be met through imports, mainly from India and other countries.

FAN General Secretary Hiramani Sharma said Nepal has been moving toward self-sufficiency in rose production under normal circumstances, but the seasonal spike in demand combined with reduced winter output makes imports unavoidable.

“Except for Valentine’s Day, Nepal is largely self-reliant in roses,” Sharma said. “But during this one week, demand increases drastically while cold weather reduces production, leaving no alternative but to import.”

Sharma said that achieving full self-sufficiency throughout the year would require the expansion of modern high-tech greenhouse farming. He explained that advanced greenhouse systems could help farmers overcome seasonal climate challenges and maintain stable production even during colder months. However, he noted that such technology is still not widely available in Nepal.

He added that without scientific and technology-based farming methods, it will remain difficult for Nepal to reduce imports during this high-demand season.

Rose prices expected to rise up to Rs 150 per stem

With Nepal relying on imported roses and international market prices rising, consumers are expected to pay more for roses this Valentine’s season.

FAN said the retail price of a single rose stem is expected to range between Rs 100 and Rs 150, depending on quality, packaging, and flower shop location. Last year, roses were sold at around Rs 90 to Rs 120 per stem.

Sharma said the price increase is mainly due to higher rose prices in India, Nepal’s key import source. He noted that rose prices in India have increased by nearly 20 percent this year.

“Price increases over time are natural, but this year prices have also gone up significantly in India,” Sharma said. “Since roses are being imported at a higher cost, prices in Nepal will also rise. Packaging, decoration, and value addition can also cause price differences from shop to shop.”

FAN claimed that there is no significant difference in quality between imported roses and those produced in Nepal, though availability remains a challenge during winter.

Valentine’s Week rose business expected to exceed Rs 56 million

If supply remains stable, FAN estimates that rose trading during Valentine’s Week could generate business worth around Rs 56.2 million in Nepal.

Last year, approximately 425,000 rose stems were sold during the same period. However, FAN said the country’s dependence on imports means a large portion of the total revenue will flow abroad.

Based on the current estimate, around 70 percent of the rose trade—worth approximately Rs 39.34 million—will be tied to imported roses, mostly from India.

Kathmandu Valley to consume majority of roses

FAN said Kathmandu Valley is expected to remain the largest market for roses, accounting for nearly 60 percent of total consumption. This means around 270,000 rose stems are likely to be sold in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur during Valentine’s Week.

The remaining 40 percent, or about 180,000 stems, is expected to be consumed in other major cities including Pokhara, Dharan, Chitwan, Biratnagar, and surrounding areas.

On regular days, Nepal’s daily demand for roses ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 stems, but the Valentine’s season typically pushes demand to several times higher than normal.

Rose farming expanding across Nepal

Commercial rose farming in Nepal is currently concentrated in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley, as well as Chitwan, Kavrepalanchok, and Rupandehi. FAN said cultivation is gradually expanding to additional districts as demand for flowers increases and more farmers explore floriculture as a business opportunity.

However, FAN stressed that improving year-round supply will require greater investment in modern farming technology, improved greenhouse infrastructure, and better support for local growers.

With Valentine’s Week approaching, traders and florists are preparing for high demand, while consumers are expected to face slightly higher prices for roses compared to previous years.