The flower growers and traders of Jashore’s Jhikargaccha upazila expect to sell flowers worth Tk70 crore in the month of February, as flowers are a must-have in the celebration of Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day, and the observance of Amar Ekushey.
Flower growers are having a busy time nurturing their flowers ahead of the three events in the country.
They also hope that they will be able to sell flowers worth Tk100 crore ahead of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day on 14 February, International Mother Language Day on 21 February, Bangabandhu’s Birth Anniversary on 17 March, Independence Day on 26 March and Pahela Baishakh on 14 April.
Gadkhali and Panisara areas of Jhikargachha upazila have worn a colourful look with flowers everywhere, where the farmers are nurturing their flowers to catch the markets.
Different species of flowers, including rose, jarbera, gladiolus, tuberose, marigold, lilium, gipsy, and chandramallika, are cultivated in Jashore.
Pervez, a flower grower in Syedpara in the upazila, said he brought five bighas of land under marigold cultivation and two bighas under tube-rose cultivation. “Now I am spending a busy time nurturing my flowers as I have to catch the flower markets. I also used vitamins and pesticides in my flower garden to keep them free from pest attack,” he said.
Qurban Ali, another flower grower in Panisara village, said, “I have brought over two bighas of land under rose cultivation. The demand for roses increases on Valentine’s Day. There are new buds on the rose plants now. I am spraying vitamins so that they are not damaged. The price of flowers will increase before Valentine’s Day, I hope.”
Already, one stick of rose is being sold at Tk25–30 per piece at the retail level, he said.
At the retail level, Jerbera is being sold at Tk8-10 per piece, rose at Tk15-16 per piece, gladiolus at Tk15-17 per piece, tuberose at Tk12, gipsy at Tk10 per piece, 100 pieces chandramallika at Tk500, china rose at Tk25–26 per piece, but the price of flowers will increase three times ahead of the festivals, he said.
President of Jashore Flower Cultivation and Marketing Co-operative Society, Abdur Rahim, said the main flower business started in the month of December and will continue till 14 April.
Flowers are being sold year-round. However, the demand for flowers is high during the festivals, and farmers spend busy days producing and nurturing flowers, he said.
He said flowers worth Tk70 crores will be sold in the three events in February alone.
Besides, flowers worth around Tk 550 crore are sold from the region annually, he added.
Masud Hossain Palash, Jhikargachha Upazila Agriculture officer, said this year, a total of 630 hectares of land have been brought under flower cultivation and of these, 150-200 hectares of land have been brought under rose cultivation.
Gadkhali and Panisara unions of Jhikargachha upazila of Jashore are famous as the country’s first commercial flower cultivation hub.
In 1982, a flower farmer named Sher Ali first started flower cultivation in this region.
The flower market sits every morning at Gadkhali bazar along the Jashore-Benapole highway.
Flowers of Jhikargaccha are being supplied to different parts of the country due to high demand.