Flower industry shows promise in Gaibandha
After passing his Secondary School Certificate in 2009, Liton Sarker from Purbo Chaporhati village in Gaibandha's Sundarganj upazila struggled to find his place in the world. Despite knocking on many an employer's door, he found no job. It was only when he decided to grow flowers on his father's small plot that not only the field but also his life began to bloom. Now a successful flower farmer, Liton is an inspiration to others.“
Unemployment was miserable,” Liton recalls. “It plunged me into a state of deep disappointment. At home and within my friend circle I was disregarded. I lost all hope.”
“My father only has two decimals,” he explains. “It's not enough land to meet the food requirements for our family. We were trapped in poverty with no way out; and because of that I couldn't continue my education either.”
“With nothing else to do I started a nursery, growing timber and fruit tree saplings,” Liton says. “The profit margins were low and earnings were poor, which was especially frustration because there was a lot of work involved in looking after the saplings. Eventually I gave up.”
Then, three years ago, Liton went to visit relatives in Jessore. The change in scenery brought a new idea: to try growing flowers. Starting with marigolds and hybrid roses on 60 decimals of leased land, Liton got to work. Before long, his garden was noticed by flower traders. Soon he was earning a monthly profit of Tk 12,000.
“I've had no training,” Liton says. “I learnt from trial and error. Flowers do well with intensive labour, pesticides and fertiliser.” He has since established a second garden on 62 decimals in Dharmapur Bazar.
Liton's efforts have encouraged others, bringing a new farming industry to Sundarganj. “I'm not an expert but I share what knowledge I have,” Liton says. “If I ever have the chance to be trained I'm sure I could do even better.”
“The soil in Sundarganj is favourable for floriculture,” says the upazila's agriculture officer Rashedul Islam. “Every year the number of flower gardens is increasing as people realise the profits that can be made.”
It's a nascent local industry buoyed by steadily rising demand. There are not less than seven florist shops in the area of Sundarganj Bazar which trade in flowers year-round.
“Demand for flowers is always there,” says one florist, Farman Mia. “Flowers are needed for religious ceremonies including weddings. Of course, demand peaks on national holidays including Pahela Baishakh, New Year's Day and Valentine's Day.
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