By Laxman Poudel
Bhairawa, Feb. 14: Imports of rose from India has declined this year. Imports of rose have dropped by almost half this year compared to last year.
According to the Bhairahawa Customs Office, red rose worth Rs. 1.5 million has been imported till mid-January of the current fiscal year. In the same period last year, red rose worth Rs 2.9 million was imported from the Bhairahawa border.

Millions of rupees go to India annually to import chocolate and red rose on the occasion of the Valentine's Day.
Information Officer of Bhairahawa Customs Office Upendra Lamichhane informed that 41,024 kilograms of rose was imported in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.
Meanwhile, traders said imports of red rose have declined this year due to lower demand.

Ramesh Pandey, a central member of the Nepal Florists' Association, said that the import has also decreased due to lower demand for flowers than last year. “This may be because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Not only rose but also Valentine's Day chocolates are imported in large quantities from India. Chocolates worth Rs. 548 million was imported from Bhairahawa customs alone in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.