Home ›› 25 Feb 2022 ›› Nation
The farming of Tulip, a classy flower, at Tetulia upazila under Panchagarh district has got huge potentiality, creating prospects of eco-tourism and job generation.
Farmers are feeling happy with the farming as flowers of the piloting project have been sold for around Tk 33 lakh this year.
Experts and agriculturalists said the farming will help to boost the regional economy and tourism, creating employment opportunities and attracting visitors.
A local non-government organisation named Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) began a pilot project on 40 decimals of land with financial assistance of Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).
ESDO Executive Director Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman said, “We initially engaged eight female marginal farmers who were our beneficiaries for the trial farming of the valued flower in three different plots in two villages, Sharialjoth and Dorjipara, of the upazila.”
The farmers jointly planted some 40,000 bulbs in three separate plots on 40 decimals of land at the very beginning of last January. It was probably the biggest ever high-valued Tulip cultivation in the country. It is short-duration cultivation. The farmers started harvesting the flowers from the garden at the very beginning of February.
A spot visit found that eight female farmers – Mukta Pavin, Sumi Akhter, Anowara Begum, Sajeda Begum Monowara Begum, Aysha Siddiqa Hosneara and Morsheda Begum – in groups were harvesting the flowers.
Morsheda Begum, a farmer at Sharialjoth village said, they formed a group and planted some 20,000 bulbs on 20 decimals of land experimentally with the support of ESDO. “All flowers bloomed in the gardens and we sold them. We earned around Tk 17 lakh selling the flowers, including the visitors’ tickets.”
“We started harvesting and selling the flowers at the very beginning of the month. We sold a piece of flower at Tk 90,” she also said. She added the farming has created a source of income for her four-member family.
Another farmer Sumi Akhter in Dorjipara village said around 100 visitors visit her garden every day and the number was high during the holidays.
“We have introduced a ticket system for visitors. We charge per person Tk 20. This season, Tk 16 lakh has been earned, “she added.
ESDO Project Coordinator Aynul Haque said, “We have imported the bulbs from the Netherlands through a flower businessman in Gazipur district for experimenting with the farming this year. We encouraged the growers by providing all assistance to cultivate the flowers.”
Farmers planted six varieties of the flower of different colours in the lands, which include Antarctica (white), Dutch sunrise (yellow), Milkshake (light pink), Barcelona (dark pink), Addram (orange), Replay (orange), Denmark (orange), and Strong Gold (yellow).
People flock to the flower shops every day to buy flowers in order to decorate houses and to present their loved ones.
DAE Deputy Director of Panchagarh Shamim Hossain said the Panchagarh weather is favourable for the cultivation as the duration of winter here is lengthy compared to other parts of the country.
