Florists expect to turn over Tk 1b in north

Works related to harvesting, packaging and transporting flowers are now at their zenith in the northern region for their high demand with Ekushey February (International Mother Language Day), Valentine's Day, Pahela Falgun, Pahela Baishakh and March 26 (Independence Day) approaching.

Many unemployed and educated youths have ventured into flower cultivation commercially instead of searching for jobs in the region.

Many of them have already started earning profit from sales of flowers grown in their homesteads.

According to the sources, currently the market size of flowers in the country is over Tk12 billion (1200 crore) for the whole year.

Flower farmers and traders have set a turnover target of Tk5 billion (500 crore) across the country targeting the upcoming 21 February, Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day and Pahela Baishakh.

Like the previous years, this year farmers and traders of the region including, Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts, are eying a turnover of Tk1 billion (100 crore) centering the above-mentioned festivals, insiders said.

Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (AED) said demand for flowers as an agricultural product is increasing day by day everywhere in the country.

The flower market is growing at the rate of 10 per cent every year, though once upon a time, Jashore was one of the prominent places for commercial flower production.

But now, flowers are being cultivated commercially in almost all districts of the country, including Golapgram in Savar of Dhaka, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Meherpur, Rangamati, Tangail, Narayanganj, Bogura, Sirajganj, Manikganj and Natore.

With this, the northern region has turned into a hub for flower cultivators and traders.

In 1991, the government enlisted flowers as exportable commodities as about 2 million people of the country are now involved in flower-related works including farming, transporting and selling.

Of the total, there are about 20,000 retail florists in 64 districts, with about 500 in the northern region, 500 in Dhaka, 700 in Sylhet, 500 in Chattogram and 600 in Cox's Bazar.

Motlubor Rahman, deputy director of the DAE, Bogura said, "Soil and weather of the region are very suitable for flower cultivation. Besides, due to high demand in the market and profitability, flowers are being cultivated and traded on a large scale in the region. 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 education, I 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 cultivated flowers commercially on three bighas of land. Traders from different places including Shahbagh and Khamarbari of Dhaka, Bogura and Sirajganj town come to me and collect flowers at a fair price that shows me a ray of hope in my life," he added.

Sher Ali, another farmer of Chowhali shoal in Sirajganj district, said, "Both flower farming and trading have changed my fate. I cultivate various types of flowers on my land and supply those at own initiative to different parts of the country, including Dhaka. But, I face problem while carrying goods due to poor communication system in the Jamuna River area. However, I will try to continue my efforts as I believe that it is now better 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 of Bogura, said, "If someone seeks any assistance to enhance his or her flower-related business, we will provide all kinds of support as per need."

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