While jasmine or gardenia flowers, among others, are said to help one sleep, the gladiolus is more renowned for its visual beauty. But in Savar's Birulia union, 32-year-old Nur-e-Alam has found in gladioli the secret to a good night's rest: solvency.

“I couldn't sleep due to poverty,” says Alam, “but now that I am economically self-reliant, I have no insomnia.” Nowadays a successful flower farmer, Alam has reason to feel content.

His first experience with growing gladioli dates back to 2012, when he leased 1 bigha of land on which to try growing the flower. He earned 50,000 taka for his efforts in the first year. This year he hopes to earn up to six lakhs from selling the flowers cultivated on 8 bighas of leased land.

Nur-e-Alam with his flowers. Photo: Star

“Flower production costs around Tk 1 lakh per bigha in pesticides and labour,” he says. “Around 25,000 seeds worth Tk 50,000 are needed as well. But I have found that gladioli cultivation is more profitable than other flowers.”

Gladioli can be grown and harvested within 70 days in any season, with different coloured specimens including white, red, yellow, scarlet, pink, violet, rose pink, lipstick and blue often grown side by side in the same plot.

With his savings Alam has purchased a utility truck to transport the flowers to market. He has diversified into growing roses on three bighas of leased land as well as vegetables including papaya, pumpkin, cauliflower and spinach on ten bighas. Crop diversification has helped Alam to secure a dependable, year-round income.

Nonetheless it is Alam's success with gladioli that has most impressed his neighbours. “We often visit Alam's gladiolus field both to enjoy its beauty and to take his advice about growing them,” says farmer Nitay Chondro, who has recently begun growing gladioli of his own.

According to Lokman Hossen, a rose grower in the area, gladioli cultivation is increasingly popular. “Considering profit margins, many have decided to grown gladioli instead of roses,” he says.

Najiat Ahmed from Savar's department of agriculture extension office says more than a thousand farmers in Savar cultivate flowers on 350 hectares in total. Savar's agriculture officer Md Mofidul Islam says that considering the popularity of gladioli cultivation, training will be arranged for farmers new to growing the flower.