Bangladesh-Netherlands Business initiative likely to start soon

Diplomats of Bangladesh and the Netherlands have come to a consensus to start business initiative between the two countries soon.

Riaz Hamidullah, ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, and Thijs Woudstra, deputy ambassador of the Netherlands in Dhaka, expressed such interest while addressing a webinar on Tuesday.

At the webinar, titled “Flower power in Bangladesh”, Riaz Hamidullah said, “Some Dutch companies’ engagement for 6-12 months can be a case which might encourage other people and create other opportunities.”

Woudstra Thijs said, “I am looking forward to trade missions that can strengthen the relationship between the two countries.”

Opportunities

Flower cultivation is 3.5 times profitable than rice and one and half to two times than vegetable, Farjana Nasrin Khan, senior scientific officer at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said in her presentation at the webinar.

“There is a good domestic demand for flower in Bangladesh as many national and international days are observed in the country. The agro ecology in Bangladesh is also suitable for flower cultivation with a shorter production circle. The production cost of flower is low and its domestic demand is increasing. These are the opportunities for flower farming sector in the country,” she said.

“Innovative farmers and low land cost are also among the positive aspects of the flower sector and there is a high potential for creating employments for women, both in cultivation and marketing,” said farzana.

“To meet up market demand, various flowers, such as chrysanthemum, lilium, carnation, and orchid, are imported from china. Tulip cultivation is possible successfully as well as gerbera. Pot culture here in Bangladesh is another opportunity,” she mentioned.

“Real flower has more opportunities than the artificial ones. Fresh flower still is dominating the market,” said Robert van den Heuvel, international consultant at Sprout Economics, who gave another presentation at the webinar.

Challenges

Infrastructure, conservation and post-harvest management facilities, lack of flower diversification, and farming in open field were pointed out as challenges to the sector.

Around 96 per cent flowers are cultivated in open field condition.

Moreover, lack of quality and required amount of propagating materials, protective infrastructure is drawn as challenges.

“Currently, 8-10 varieties of cut flowers have a good demand in the market. Flowers are cultivated in 26 districts with 10-15 per cent annual growth,” said Robert van den Heuvel.

“Trade of seed, bulbs, flowers and ornament plants are the core businesses while packaging, cooling, greenhouse, bio pesticides, bio fertiliser pots for ornamental plants are the supporting business,” Robert described.

At the webinar, Anwar Faruk, former agriculture secretary, said, “There is no floriculture policy in the country. We need to formulate this policy for flourishing the sector.”