Gadakhali and Panisara flower growers in Jashore’s Jhikargachha are ready with their produce as national events such as the Victory Day, 16 December, are now around the corner.

On the occasion of the Victory Day, New Year (English), Mother Language Day, Valentine’s Day and Independence Day, they sell flowers worth tens of millions of taka every year.

Among the flowers Gadakhali and Panisara villagers grow are nightshade, roses, gerbera, marigold, gladiolus, gypsy, rodstick, calendula, chrysanthemum.

As roses tend to be ruined by diseases and insects, flower growers have put white cap on the flowers to protect them.

Flower farmers of Gadakhali and Panisara say they have so far suffered huge losses due to a double whammy of cyclone Amphan and coronavirus this year.

They say they expect to recoup those losses through selling flowers during the upcoming national events.

Abu Taher, a trader and florist, says he has planted nightshade and gladiolus on eight bighas of land targeting the recouping of the losses caused by the cyclone and the pandemic.

Liaquat Hossain, a florist, said he has cultivated roses and gerberas on five bighas of land. If the weather is favourable, he can make a profit of Tk 150,000 to Tk 200,000.

Farmers say they are now selling per 100 pieces of tuberose at Tk 200 to 250, per 100 pieces of gladiolus 100 pieces at Tk 1100, per bundle of gypsy at Tk 50, and per bundle of rod stick at Tk 50.

Farmer Haruna Rashid says the sale of flowers has come down a lot due to the increase in the import and use of plastic flowers in the country, hurting them commercially.

Abdur Rahim, president of the Flowers Society, says around 20,000 people are involved in flower cultivation across the country.

And around 3.0 million people depend on flower farming or business for their livelihood, he adds.

Jhikargachha Upazila Agriculture Officer Masud Hossain Palash says about 600 hectares of land in six unions of Jhikargachha have been brought under flower cultivation commercially.

Some 7,000 farmers and 100,000 labourers are involved in the flower farming there, he says.

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