Occasions like February 21, Pahela Phalgun, Valentine’s Day etc. main target

Swarnomoyee Mostafa Oishy:

Flower cultivation has gained popularity in the northern region, known as granary of the country, due to its high demand centering several occasions like Ekushey February (International Mother Language Day), Valentine’s Day, Pahela Phalgun, Pahela Baishakh and March 26 (Independence Day).

Meanwhile, many unemployed and educated youths have leaned into flower cultivation commercially instead of searching for jobs. Many of them have also seen the face of profit by cultivating flowers in their lands.

According to the sources, currently the market value of flowers in the country is over Tk 12 billion (1200 crore) for the whole year. Of them, flower cultivators and traders have set a turnover target of Tk 5 billion (500 crore) across the country around the upcoming occasions like February 21 (Ekushey February), Pahela Phalgun, World Valentine’s Day and Pahela Baishakh.

Like the previous years, this year farmers and traders of the northern region including Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts are eying a turnover of Tk 1 billion (100 crore) centering the mentioned occasions, insiders said.

Sources at the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) said, the demand of flowers as an agricultural product is increasing day by day everywhere of the country. The flower market is growing at a rate of 10 percent every year, though once upon a time, Jessore was one of the places for commercially flower cultivation. But now, flowers are being cultivated commercially almost all districts of the country including Savar Golapgram, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Chattogram, Cox’s Baza’ar, Meherpur, Rangamati, Tangail, Narayanganj, Bogura, Sirajganj, Manikganj and Natore. With this, the northern region has turned into a business hub for flower cultivators and traders.

In 1991, the government enlisted flowers as an exportable commodity as about 2 million people in the country have been remained involved with the flower business including farming, transporting and selling. Of them, there are about 20,000 retail florists in 64 districts, while about 500 are in northern region, 500 in Dhaka, 700 in Sylhet, 500 in Chattogram and 600 in Cox’s Baza’ar.

Motlubor Rahman, DD of AED in Bogura said, “The soil and weather of this region are very suitable for flower cultivation. Besides, due to high demand in market and becoming a profitable crop, farmers are inclining into flower cultivation and trading. Meanwhile, many farmers have changed their lot by cultivating flowers. On the other hand, it is playing a vital role in the country’s economy.”

Nirab Ali, a young flower cultivator of Shariakandi in Bogura district said, “After completion of my degree, I had been searched for a job for around three years. But I did not get. Finding no better way, I started to cultivate various types of flowers including coriander, rose, marigold and chrysanthemum on my father’s land experimentally. Getting a good profit in the first term, I continue my work. Now, I have commercially cultivated flowers on three bighas of land. Traders from different places including Shahbagh and Khamarbari of Dhaka, Bogura and Sirajganj town come to me and collect the flowers with a good price that shows me a new ray in my life.”

Sher Ali, another farmer of Chowhali shoal in Sirajganj district said, “Both the flower farming and trading have changed my fate. I cultivate various types of flowers on my own lands and supply those with my own initiative to different parts of the country including Dhaka. But, I face problem, while carrying the goods due to poor communication system in the Jamuna river based area. I however, try to continue my efforts as I believe that it is now batter for me than other jobs.”

“If I get loan and transport facility, I have to expand my business at a large scale in future,” he added.

Md. Saiful Islam, Deputy Commissioner in Bogura said, “If someone seeks any assistance to enhance his or her flower related business, we will provide all kinds of supports as per need.”