Keeping the tradition alive
Once upon a time, flowers were cultivated in acres and acres of fields in a Lalmonirhat village, so much so that the place was named Fulgachh, which literally means a flower tree.
But the tradition has almost died with the passage of time for some reason; almost no one cultivates flowers in their backyard anymore. No one except two siblings -- Mabia Khatun (22) and Asadul Islam (21), the children of Fakhar Ali and Asma Begum.
Fakhar was a flower farmer himself, and passed his knowledge on to his next generation. The siblings are final-year undergrad students, studying political science in Rangpur Carmichael College.
They have been cultivating flowers near their house since their school days at Fulgachh in Lalmonirhat's Moghalhat union. The duo are currently growing different varieties of local and foreign flowers on one bigha of land.
They earn a handsome amount of money by selling flowers and flower seedlings. With that, they are not only meeting their educational expenses but also providing for their family.
The flowers are cultivated from November to March every year. It costs them Tk 80,000 to 90,000 to grow them. They earn Tk 2.5 to 3 lakh by selling flowers and their seedlings.
The flowers on their orchard include marigold, rose, sunflower, dahlia, aparajita, keya, champa, chameli, zinnia, zooey, jasmine, togar, dolanchapa, nayantara, madhabilata, malati, azalea, cosmos, krishnakali, camellia, calendula, gazania, chrysanthemum, zinnia, daisy, nasturtium, potuleka, morning glory, sylvia and various other domestic and foreign varieties.
Asadul Islam told The Daily Star that wholesalers buy flowers from them. They keep different varieties of rose flower seedlings in the garden throughout the year.
"The demand for flowers increases during winter," he said.
Mabia Khatun told The Daily Star that flower farming is profitable, but it requires hard work and regular maintenance. Students can benefit by growing flowers.
Fakhar Ali told this newspaper that their two children learned floriculture from him, but now they are experienced. About 40 years ago, almost every homestead had flower plants and many people also cultivated flowers, but now that scene is no longer visible at Fulgachh.
Nawshed Islam, a flower trader at Misonmor area of Lalmonirhat, said he buys flowers from the siblings. "These flowers are also sold to traders of Rangpur and Bogura."
Hamidur Rahman, deputy director of Lalmonirhat Department of Agriculture Extension DAE, said many people are benefiting from seasonal flower cultivation in Lalmonirhat. However, there is still no commercial cultivation of flowers on a large scale in the district.
"If anyone is interested in floriculture, necessary advice will be given from the agriculture department," he said.
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