Spreading flower cultivation creates job for women

Flower cultivation is improving living standards for women in two upazilas of Barisal and Pirojpur districts.

On a visit to Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur district and adjacent Banaripara upazila of Barisal district, this correspondent learnt that the region is suitable for growing flowers. Flower cultivation on more than 500 hectares of land has created opportunities for economic development.

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Rathin Kumar Gharami, upazila agriculture officer of Nesarabad, said flowers were grown on 484 hectares of land by 1,784 nurseries in the upazila this year, increasing from 440 hectares by 1,750 nurseries last year.

Waliul Islam, assistant agriculture officer of Banaripara upazila, said flower cultivation was spreading in the upazila.

Last year, flowers were cultivated on 25 hectares of land by 60 nurseries, which increased to 32 hectares by 68 nurseries in the current year in this upazila, the agriculture officer said.

Shahadat Hossain, owner of Baishakhi nursery in Nesarabad upazila, said he cultivated gada, zinia, gladiolus, rose and other flowers on 3 hectares of land. He spent Tk 3 lakh as initial capital for hiring ten female labourers, and is expecting a return of Tk 5 lakh this season.

Sufala, owner of Sukanya nursery at Udoykathi under Banaripara upazila, said she cultivated gada, zinia, gladiolus, rose and other flowers on one hectare of land spending Tk 1 lakh, and is expecting at least 50 percent profit.

Roses are sold at Tk 40-50 per 100, but the price is 5 times higher in Dhaka and other cities. The significant difference is due to a lack of proper infrastructure, the growers said.

Aklima, Asma, Rahima, female labourers working at Kibria Nursery of Nesarabad, receive Tk 300 per working day in remuneration.

The flower cultivators of the region said they are not recognised as entrepreneurs, which bars them from taking loans from financial institutions. This creates problems for them in raising business capital.