Roknuzzaman, Benapole
With the last line of'Ode to the West Wind' by P B Shelly - 'If winter comes, can spring be far behind' the spring is knocking at the doors of the people. With the inception of the Spring on 13 February when the Bangla month Falgun will appear and on February-14 is also conspicuous for International Day of Self-love commonly known as Valentine's Day and also a week later, the day of International Mother Language Day on 21st February will be observed in a befitting manner in the country.
The flower farmers of Godkhali and Sharsha areas of Jashore are now spending a busy time in nurturing their flower gardens. The entire February month is a special season for the flower cultivators of the district. According to source of Bangaldesh Flower Society, a target has been fixed to sell flower amounting Taka 700 millon( 70 crore) during the current season. Nearly 6,000 farmers of Jashore are now involved in varities of flower cultivation on 1500 hectares of land.
Of the flowers Glorious, Tube rose, rose, Zerbera, Gypsy, Rodstick, Chrysanthemum are the most favoured. In the villages of Gidkhali, Panisara, Navaron, Nirbaskhola and Ulsi areas flower farmers were busy to wear caps over the rose buds, applying fertiliers and insecticides, weeding and irrigating in the flower fields.
Flower farmer Dildar Hossain of village Ulsi informed, flower cultivation is his family tradition. He added his father was a flower cultivator and he also cultivated flower on three bighas of land and was busy taking care of those in the morning and in the afternoon. Ashraful Islam of Godkhali village informed he cultivated varieties of flowers on four bighas of land.
He said, the rose has a tremendous demand during the Spring Day, Valentine's Day and on 21 February. He added, it costs him Taka four to rear a Rose and he hoped to sell each rose for Taka 7 to 8 during the celebrations.
Abdur Rahim, President of Bangladesh Flower Society said, flower is being cultivated on nearly 3,500 hectares of land in various upazilas of Jashore district. Over 70 of demand of flowers of the country are met from the flowers cultivated in Gadkhal and Sarsha of Jashore. He said, a target of selling flower amounting 70 crore has been fixed this year from Jashore only.