Flower powers people in Narayanganj’s Sabdi

Village Sabdi under Narayanganj’s Bandar upazila on the bank of river Brahmaputra is well known for flower production. Residents claim that it is one the largest suppliers of flowers to Dhaka as the soil of the area is more suitable than many other places in the country for flower cultivation.

The farmers and others involved in the flower trade said they were facing a tough situation as demand for flowers fell drastically in Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have suffered a loss of around Tk 35 crore in the past two years due to the pandemic,’’ said Abdul Baten, president of Bandar Upazila Flower & Plant Association.

“Most of the farmers have stopped cultivating flowers during the pandemic. The situation started improving a little bit in recent days. Hopefully, we will be able to make up the loss somehow.”

He said that hundreds of people in the upazila usually plant flowers on hundreds of acres of land every season.

Apart from Sabdi, flowers are being cultivated in Majhipara, Digholdi, Madhabpasha villages in Bandar upazila, Aichtala, Shambhupura union of Sonargaon upazila, and Masumabad and Bholabo of Rupganj upazila.

Zakir Hossain, the owner of a flower garden in Sabdi, said he cultivates flowers of various types throughout the whole year and usually make a good profit.

There is a lack of quality seeds, seedlings, research laboratories for tissue culture, and facilities for a loan on low interest.

There are no proper marketing strategies and proper storage facilities, he said.

Hundreds of acres of land come under cultivation of rose, gladiolus, tuberose, gerbera, cosmos, daisy, dahlia, chrysanthemum, marigold and many other varieties of flowers in the areas. The scent of flowers attracts the people along the roadside. Thousands of people visit each day to admire nature at its finest, said Zakir.

Villagers said one Sudeb Chandra Das started cultivating flowers 35 years ago in Sabdi, which later inspired other individuals to it.

On a visit to the area, it was found Gardenia (Kathmaloti) blooming across the roadsides and that with boundless flower fields, Shabdi in Kolagachia union of Bandar upazila has become a colour kingdom.

Ebaid Ullah, an actor of Kallandi, said flowers are in high demand all over the country, especially on Pahela Falgun, Valentine’s Day, Pahela Baishakh, February 21, March 26, and December 16.

Flowers from Sabdi go to many parts of the country including Narayanganj Sadar and Dhaka.

He further said that some 4,000 families make a living by working in the flower garden in the upazila. Many workers used to work on other people’s land but now they have started commercial farming on their own land.

Awalad Hossain, general secretary of Bandar Flower Association, said that to flourish the flower business in Sabdi, the government should help them financially.

When contacted, Md Ishaque. Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension, Narayanganj, said the farmers can take a loan from Krishi Bank if needed.