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Flower prices have doubled ahead of festivals that include Falgun 1st and February 21. In the last year before Falgun 1st, a quality rose was sold for Tk10-Tk15 per piece in various markets such as Shahbagh and Agargaon in the capital.
This year, rose prices have increased to Tk 30 – Tk 40 per piece. The prices of other flowers, including rajnigandha, dahlia, chrysanthemum and other local and imported flowers have increased as well.
Sellers say the prices would have gone up further if imported flowers had not been available in the market.
The price of flowers has increased at all levels – growers, wholesalers and retailers – due to different reasons, including low production compared to demand, increased demand during festivals and increase in the production cost due to large companies cultivating flowers.
The buyers however said the traders have increased the prices to take advantage of the increased demand. Traders regularly raise prices several times during festivals.
A visit to different flower markets in the capital show common quality local red, white, and yellow roses are selling at wholesale and retail levels for Tk30 – Tk 40 per piece.
Locally produced China roses are selling for Tk 60 – Tk 70 per piece, and imported Indian long stick roses are selling at Tk 100 – Tk 120. Accordingly, buyers are spending Tk 3,000 – Tk 12,000 per bundle of hundred roses, depending on quality and size.
Apart from this, rajnigandha is being sold at Tk 15 – Tk 16 per piece, and 20 chains of three feet long gandha flowers are being sold at Tk 500 – Tk 600.
Gerbera is selling for Tk 20 – Tk 30, chrysanthemums of different colors for Tk 5 – Tk 15, gladiolus of different colors for Tk 30 each. Pink orchids are selling for Tk 120 – Tk 130, and local Gypsy for Tk 20 per bundle.
Md Lokman, a flower trader of Shahbagh and owner of Ananya event and Pushpabitan said, “Many flower farmers have dropped out due to the Covid-19 fallout. Those who survived have become less productive.
“On the contrary, the demand for flowers during social and national festivals has increased since then. As a result, the production deficit is unable to cover the increased demand. As a result, flower prices are going up during festivals.”
He added, “Besides, big companies like ACI, Dark, and Fiver Agro have gotten into the flower business. They produce flowers over the year with modern methods and technology. Therefore, the cost of flower cultivation has also increased compared to before.
“This year, we are selling normal roses for Tk 30 – Tk 40 per piece, it was at Tk 10 – Tk 15 per piece, because we also had to buy at a higher price. We had to buy a rose of the normal quality from the farmers for Tk 20 – Tk 22 per piece.”
Arif Ahmed, a seasonal flower business in Gopi Bagh of the capital, said, “The wholesale traders actually increase the price of flowers several times in February. However, the production cost of flowers remains the same as before.
“A bouquet of 100 roses usually sells for Tk 300 – Tk 400 when the festivals are over. However, the same bouquet of 100 roses of the same quality costs Tk 3,000 – Tk 4,000 on festivals such Falgun, Ekushey February, December 16.”
He then said, “According to the information of Bangladesh Flowers Society, currently 5-6 types of flowers – including roses, orchids, and lilies – are imported from Thailand and India. We have to import 20 per cent of the total demand of flowers.”
Liakat Ali, a flower grower and owner of Labani Nursery in Gadkhali area of Jashore, said, “Even if we sell each rose for Tk 3, we still have a profit. But because the prices increase during the festivals, we also sell at higher prices.
“However, due to the import of flowers from India, the prices have started to decrease.”
He sold each rose for Tk 20 – Tk 22, rajnigandha Tk 8 – Tk 10, gandha Tk 500 – Tk 600 [20 chain], and chrysanthemum Tk 1.5 – Tk 2 in Gadkhali on Sunday.
