The ‘second capital of flowers’ is overflowing with roses and marigolds
Noyon Khondoker, Jhenaidah: The “second capital of flowers”, Jhenaidah is adamant to make up for the losses it suffered during the Coronavirus outbreak.
The demand for flowers never really goes away, but as Valentine’s Day and International Mother Language Day is near, florists in the southwestern district of Bangladesh have targeted to sell flowers worth Tk2 crore.
With bright yellow marigolds and red roses scattered all around the district, the air smells sweet and fragrant throughout.
Festivals abound in February, so the district’s Kaliganj upazila has been providing most of the district’s profits in the recent years. This year is no different.
A successful florist and trader SM Tipu Sultan from the upazila’s Trilochanpur village said he has been growing Roses, Chrysanthemums, and Gerbera flowers in this approximately 4 acres of land.
“I have been in this business for the last 27 years. Dhaka is among the districts where my flowers are delivered. I also have a shop in the capital where my workers sell the flowers I grow.” he said.
Sultan employs four permanent staff to look after the farms, and up to 12 people are always at the lands to irrigate, fertilize and transport the flowers to different locations.
“I spend almost Tk25-26 lakh on my projects and make twice as much as I spend,” Sultan added.
Roses are the most popular flower throughout the year, which is why demand and prices are high for this flower. “There are times when we can sell a single rose even up to Tk35, and from December to March the prices can get higher.”
Sultan, also the general secretary of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Flower Farmers and Traders Cooperative Society Ltd is hopeful to sell flowers worth Tk7 lakh this month.
A number of wholesale traders purchased flowers from him in different areas of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Sirajganj, and others.
Mizanur Rahman from Sundarpur union grows marigold flowers and sells a single garland string for tk60-70 now, whereas in the past they sold these for tk10-12 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Director Azgar Ali of Jhenaidah’s Department of Agricultural Extension said around 1080 acres of land of the district is used for flower cultivation. However, this year only 586 acres were used, as the flower growers were not making profits from their products.
“Aaround 70% of the flower grown in the district is marigold,” he said before adding, the villages that grow these flowers are known as “Flower Cities”.
Farmers here also do not have to travel anywhere to sell their flowers, as customers come directly to them by contacting them through the internet or phone calls.
Additionally, the booming business has resulted in an increase in women earning money, while also reducing unemployment rates, said the official.
