Flower farming commercially viable (Video)

Jessore Correspondent:
When Sher Ali, a farmer of Panisara village in Jhikargachha upazila of Jessore, started commercial cultivation of tuberose (rajanigandha) on just 30 decimals of land in 1983, none could imagine that flower farming could be profitable.

Inspired by Sher Ali, many in the village and adjoining Gotkhali started flower cultivation commercially in late 1980s and early 1990s. Now around 20,000 farmers in over 23 districts are engaged in the cultivation and over 22 lakh people are engaged in the chain from cultivation to marketing throughout the country, according to Bangladesh Flower Society (BFS).

Abdur Rahim of Panisara village was one of those who followed Sher Ali. He began after he had graduated in 1990. “I started cultivation of tuberose on my father’s 66 decimals of land and I earned Tk 2 lakh in eight months in that season,” Rahim told The Daily Star over the phone recently.

“When I started flower cultivation, the wholesalers used to control the market and the farmers were being deprived of fair price,” he said, adding, “Like today, Jessore, especially Panisara and Gotkhali, was the hub of flower cultivation at that time.”

“Then we formed an association named Gotkhali Flower Cultivators and Traders Welfare Association with Sher Ali as its president and Siddique Hossain as general secretary,” he said.

Rahim, incumbent president of BSF, said to expand flower cultivation and business they formed BFS in 1996. The BFS leaders said flowers are being exported to many countries including Qatar, Dubai and Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh now.

With increasing use of flowers, its cultivation and business flourished over the last couple of decades. BFS said flowers are being cultivated in around 10,000 hectares of land in over 23 districts. Different varieties including marigold, tuberose, rose, gladiolus, gerbera, calendula and chrysanthemum are grown commercially.

Md Harun, a grower from Cox’s Bazar, said he along with five farmers started rose cultivation on two acres of land in Baroitoli of Chakaria upazila in 1998. Initially, they had little knowledge about the farming process.

“… so we did not have a good harvest,” he said, adding that gradually they gained experience and now they are cultivating rose and gladiolus on 400 acres of land.

Harun said he is presently earning around Tk 25,000 a month with a Tk 3 lakh annual investment for rose cultivation on one acre of land. Md Naser Gani Chowdhury, a senior vice president of BFS, said he first started flower business in Chittagong city in 1997.

At that time, he faced difficulties to collect flowers, he said, adding, “But now I can collect 50,000 roses in six to seven hours.” Cultivation of flowers started commercially in Chittagong in the late 1990s and gained momentum in mid-2000, said Naser.

The farmers, however, are facing some problems. Rahim said due to a lack of separate cold storages, flowers have to be stored with other vegetables for which many flowers are destroyed and lose their quality. A central market is also needed so that the farmers can get due prices, he said. Rahim demanded that the government establish a cold storage in every district.

Source: The Daily Star

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