About 5000 flower farmers in Jhenaidah have been preparing for business opportunities ahead of 3 important events marking the Bangla month of Pahela Falgoon, Valentine's Day andAmar Ekushe also known as the international mother language day on February 21.
Ganna Bazer, better known as Phuler Rajjo (capital of flower) in Jhenaidah sadar upazila has been getting huge orders for supply of flowers ahead of the events.
Many of the flower farmers said that canberra, rose, rajanigandha and marigold are being sold between Taka 30 and 35 apiece. The main market for selling the flowers is Agargaon of Dhaka.
Flower farmer Solaiman Hossain of Ganna Bazer in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila when contacted said he has been producing flowers on his two hectares of land. Of them, he has been reaping flowers from one hectare of land. Thai and Chinese varieties of rose, zarberra, and rajanigandha are the main items among the flowers.
He said that he has been earning at least Taka 10 lakh a year excluding expenses on seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, weeding, irrigation and expenses on day labourers. About 20 men and women work with him round the year.
No other crop like rice, wheat, jute, sugarcane etc. can be compared with the benefits of flower business. He has been selling each piece of rose at the rate of Taka 40, while canberra at Taka 10. The payment is made within 24 hours of delivery, the farmer said.
Swapna Rani Khudra, 38, a woman worker in a flower orchard of Solaiman Hossain said she earns taka 300 a day working in a flower orchard. About 50 per cent of the workers engaged in producing flowers in the orchard are women and making living for their families.
Nazrul Islam, general secretary of Ganna Bazer phulchashi samabaya samity, said about three thousand farmers of Jhenaidah sadar, Kaliganj and Kotchandpur upazilas are enlisted with their organization.
They were hopeful to sell the flowers, especially those on demands namely - rose, rajanigandha and zerberra. The orders each day are worth Taka 30 thousand to 35 thousand between February 11 and February 22.
Nur E Nabi, upazila agricultural officer (UAO) in Jhenaidah sadar when contacted said the farmers of the upazila, especially Ganna area, have been playing a significant role in flower farming and changing their livelihood through engaging themselves in such profitable business.