Flower farming on rise in Gaibandha’s Sadullapur
Commercial flower cultivation sees a gradual rise in Sadullapur upazila, thanks to the pioneering role of Moklesur Rahman of Tajnagar village in the area.
In 2014, Moklesur bought 25,000 rose saplings from Jashore for Tk 70 thousand and planted it on 22 decimals of lands.
“After five months, I started plucking flowers from the field and sold it for good prices. As the demand increased in local markets, I extended flower cultivation on three bighas of land,” Moklesur said.
His monthly turnover has reached Tk 1.50 lakh and the profit remains over Tk 80 thousand a month in the flowering season.
“Now I receive orders for flowers from different districts including Bogura, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon and Kurigram. After sending the items to the destination by bus, I receive the payment on Bkash account,” said Moklesur.
Seeing his success, many other farmers started commercial flower cultivation in different villages of the upazila.
Ashraful Islam, a farmer of Raghobendrapur village, said he started flower cultivation on one bigha of land two years ago and it brings better profit than usual crops or vegetables.
Rose plants give yield for five to seven years, and it needs only a little investment for the cultivation and nursing, he added.
Mostafizur Rahman of Chalknadi village said he cultivated rose, gladiolus, tuberose and ganda flowers on three bighas of land.
“Last year I cultivated tuberose on one bigha spending Tk 20,000 and got over Tk one lakh from selling the flower. I hope to get similar return from tuberose field for the next two years. I also cultivated gladiolus on 15 decimals of land spending Tk 2,000 and sold the flower worth Tk 30,000 during last three months,” he said.
Nayan Mia, a flower shop owner in Gaibandha town, said earlier they had to collect flowers from Jashore and a portion of it perished on the way.
“But now enough fresh flowers are available in Sadullapur upazila, which can be preserved for a few days,” he said.
At least 25 farmers are currently engaged in commercial flower cultivation on over 35 bighas of land as it is profitable, said Khajanur Rahman, upazila agriculture officer of Sadullapur.