Home ›› 08 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
Farmers of Naogaon expect to sell over Tk 1 crore of flowers in February for the upcoming occasions.
The farmers are spending a busy time in their nurseries tending to the flowers in preparation for the upcoming occasions of Spring Festival (Pohela Falgun), Valentine’s Day and International Mother Language Day.
Entrepreneurs expect to make a lucrative profit from flower sales this season.
Commercial flower cultivation has increased in Naogaon in recent years. Many young entrepreneurs are developing flower nurseries as they are profitable.
During winter, the beauty of these nurseries increases manifolds with the colourful flowers adorning the gardens. These flowers are in demand throughout the year but peak during February.
In the last decade, several nurseries over 200 bighas of land in different villages of Hampania union in Naogaon Sadar upazila have been built. Lakhaizani, Tarta and Ullaspur villages in the union are now known as nursery villages among the locals.
More than 30 entrepreneurs and over 200 workers in these villages are involved in the flower and plant trade.
Marigolds and various varieties of roses including Taj Mahal, Irani, Merinda, Lincoln, Tata, Delight, and Thai are cultivated in the nurseries. The traders export these flowers to the neighbouring districts of Joypurhat, Bogura, Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi.
According to the traders, the annual sales of the district are some Tk 5 crore, however, most flowers are sold in February. Young entrepreneur Sohel Rana, the owner of Sohel Nursery in Lakhaizani village, said, “My father used to transport flowers, that is where I got the concept of the flower business. However, as I do not own any land of my own, I leased an amount of land for the business.”
Sohel is currently cultivating marigolds and roses on 10 bighas of land, from which he earns around Tk 10 lakh annually.
“The current wholesale price of roses is Tk 8 and marigolds are Tk 0.5 per piece. In a few days, the prices will rise to Tk 15-20 per piece for roses and Tk 1 per piece of marigolds,” he said, adding that they expect to sell about Tk 2 lakh worth of flowers this month.
Selim Mondol, the owner of Nahim Nursery in the same village said, “Many people in the village are now getting involved in this business as the nursery business is profitable. I cultivated six varieties of roses in five bigha land and make an annual profit of Tk 6 lakh after the initial expense.”
He also makes an additional profit of Tk 4 lakh from selling rose saplings. He added that if the flower farmers receive easy-term loans from the government, they can expand their business further.
Raihan Tarafdar, the owner of Tarafdar Flower Shop and Event Management in the Fulpatti area of Naogaon city, said, “Due to weddings and other occasions the demand and the prices for flowers have increased significantly since the beginning of winter. Roses, marigolds, gypsies and jasmine buds are collected from the local farmers.”
However, other flowers like gerbera, gladiolus, tuberose, and orchids are collected from other districts like Jashore, Jhenaidah and Dhaka. Raihan expects about Tk 20 lakh worth of sales in the market this month.
Abu Bakar Siddique, owner of Star Fulghor in Sapahar upazila, said, “After years of business recession due to the pandemic, this time our trade is expected to make a turnabout. Currently, roses are selling at Tk 10-15 per piece and marigolds at Tk 1 per piece. I expect to sell flowers worth about Tk 60,000 this month.”
Naogaon Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) District Training Officer AKM Monjure Maula said, “Every year new flower nurseries are being established in the district as they are profitable. Currently, there are nurseries on 5 hectares of land in the district.”
Farmers are being trained in the cultivation of various flowers including roses and marigolds by the DAE. The trainees are being assisted in getting improved varieties of seedlings.
The official further added that flower-centred trade has a bright prospect in the district. Entrepreneurs will be supported to get agricultural loans on easy terms if needed.
