Flower is one of the most precious gifts of nature. Flower soothes our eyes with its priceless and timeless beauty. It also fills our heart with celestial and pristine pleasure. When it comes to talking about any beautiful thing of the world, we paint a picture of a flower in bloom in our minds. There is hardly anybody in the world who does not love flowers. Because of its unmatched beauty, demand for flowers is increasing in many countries across the world. Bangladesh is also not lagging behind as many people here are farming flowers commercially due to its high demand.
Flowers are grown in several districts of the country, and Gadkhali in Jashore district is worth mentioning as it has become a hub of flower farming. Many people here changed their lot by farming flowers.
A news item headlined “Gadkhali blooms with hope; flower business may cross Tk 400cr this year” was published in Sunday’s issue of the Bangladesh Post.
As winter sets in, Gadkhali wears a festive look as blooming flowers are all over here, drawing a large number of visitors every day and boosting local economy.
With the English New Year approaching, flower growers and traders here are brimming with optimism for a boom in sale of various kinds of flowers such as rose and tuberose.
Gadkhali and its surrounding villages under Jhikargachha upazila are now carpeted with blossoms, heralding the start of a vibrant flower season. Farmers have already begun harvesting flowers while traders rush to send them to Dhaka and other districts of the country.
According to Agriculture Department officials, the region has some 7,000 flower growers cultivating around 1,200 hectares of land, of which nearly 650 hectares are dedicated to flower farming.
Eleven varieties of flowers are grown here including rose, tuberose, gladiolus, gerbera, marigold, gypsy, rodstick, calendula and chrysanthemums.
Abdur Rahim, President of Gadkhali Flower Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society, said “Flower business here crosses Tk 400 crore annually. Daily trading at the wholesale market ranges between Tk 1.5 million and Tk 2 million. On Victory Day alone, we sell flowers worth about Tk 50 million.”
The wholesale flower market along the Jashore-Benapole highway remain abuzz with traders from early morning every day. Retailers and wholesalers from across the country buy flowers and send them to the capital city of Dhaka and other districts. Flowers are also exported to different countries.
Flower demand rises on the occasion of Victory Day, Valentine’s Day, Phehela Baishakh, Spring Festival, International Mother Language Day and English New Year. During any political instability, demand for flowers sharply come down.
This year, flowers are cultivated on roughly 800 hectares across Jashore district, with around 650 hectares in Gadkhali and nearby areas dedicated to commercial production.
Gadkhali alone meets nearly 70 percent of the country’s flower demand, with annual production worth around Tk 400 crore. Flower farming in Gadkhali has added a new dimension to local tourism by attracting visitors.
Commercial flower farming began in Gadkhali in 1982, when Sher Ali Sardar of Panisara village first grew tuberose on a single bigha of land. Inspired by his success, many people gradually shifted from traditional crop cultivation to flower farming.
Taking into account the growing flower demand, we hope, the government with provide all necessary support for the growers so that the burgeoning flower sector flourish. The government also should tap export potential of flowers.
