Mr. Mizanur Rahman Badal, Manikganj:
Today, on the occasion of World Valentine's Day, the first day of Phagun, flower farmers in Singair, Manikganj are hopeful of selling 5 crore taka on this occasion. Singair Upazila of Manikganj, adjacent to the capital Dhaka, has already become quite famous for flowers. Flower cultivation is increasing commercially here as it is more profitable than other crops. Flowers have been cultivated commercially on more than two hundred bighas of land in various villages of 11 unions including the municipality of this upazila. Due to favorable weather conditions, flower production has also been good this season. This year, the farmers of Singair said that flowers worth about several crore taka will be sold. They have 20 farmers in this upazila cultivating flowers with two days in mind, namely World Valentine's Day and February 21. At the beginning of this year, they worked day and night to sell flowers worth about 2 crore taka.
It is reported that 20 farmers of the upazila have cultivated commercially. Successful farmers from 11 unions have cultivated flowers like every year. They cultivate flowers commercially in Fordnagar of Dhalla union, Bhakum of Joymontap, Uttar Kanainagar of Shayesta union, Irta of Talebpur union, Notun Irta areas. As the value of flowers has increased with the times, the people of the farming class of the area have also turned to flower cultivation. Many of them have become self-sufficient. In the vast area of Titu Mia of Uttar Kanainagar village in Sayesta union of the upazila, various varieties of flowers including gerbera flowers are grown in the greenhouse shed. Flowers of the same species of 7 colors are adorning that garden.
The garden manager said, "We have purchased 22,000 flower seedlings of the same variety from India a year ago at a price of 80 taka each on five bighas of land. We have invested 42 lakh taka in this project. Flowers have started coming 3 months after planting the seedlings. We have been collecting more than 5,000 flowers every two days for seven months on average. We sell them wholesale at Agargaon Flower Market in Dhaka for 8-10 taka each. Apart from special days, flowers can be picked in this way for the next 5 months. In total, we hope to be able to sell flowers worth about half a crore taka this year. This project will continue for the next two years. The cost will be much less in the future, so the profit will increase. Moreover, we will not have to import seedlings from India anymore." Sadequr Rahman and Abdul Karim, who are also cultivating flowers, said that they are doing well with their families. Meanwhile, a local flower farmer, who did not want to be named, said that due to the increase in the price of pesticides and not getting the expected price compared to the maintenance cost, we are not able to make a profit. This year, there is a high possibility that demand for flowers will be lower due to Valentine's Day and the Muslim religious festival of Shab-e-Barat falling on the same day, Friday.
We spoke to Abdul Karim, a flower farmer from Uttar Kanainagar village of Saesta Union in the upazila. He said, first I started flower farming by mortgaging one and a half bighas of someone else's land. I made some profit from it. Currently, I am cultivating foreign improved varieties of Easter, Chandra Mallika, Kenolbhola, Gypsy (Bangla), Pompom, Purple Chandra Mallika, Yellow Chandra Mallika flowers on about 10 bighas of land. This generates a profit of about 5-6 lakh taka per year after deducting all expenses. Sadekur Rahman from the same area is cultivating native roses and China roses on 8 and a half bighas of land and is earning about 6 lakh taka per year. Seeing their income, many people are becoming entrepreneurs and are interested in flower farming.
On the afternoon of February 13, visiting various flower shops in Singair Upazila, it was seen that each local rose was priced at 40 to 50 taka, gerbera at 50 to 60 taka, gladiolus at 25-30 taka and marigold at 10-15 taka, jasmine-bell garland at 50 taka, marigold garland at 70-80 taka, lily at 200 to 250 taka, Thai-China and Indian roses at 80 to 100 taka, and orchids at 100 taka. Every year, flower growers in this region make extensive preparations to capture the flower market targeting the special day in February. As usual, farmers are busy tending to their flower gardens. Some are watering the land. Some are spraying medicines. Some are clearing weeds. This time too, there was no exception. On the occasion of February 14, farmers have been cutting flowers and taking them to the market since February 11. Wholesale traders are taking these flowers to different parts of the country, including the capital.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, flowers are being cultivated on about 20 hectares of land in the Upazila. The soil and climate of this area are suitable for flower cultivation. Roses of various colors, gerbera, chrysanthemum, star, gypsy, marigold, and asters are cultivated. Farmers are leaning towards flower cultivation because of the high profit with low cost. The farmers also said that they have not received any help from the Upazila Agriculture Office. No block supervisor has ever been seen in their garden.
In this regard, Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Habibul Bashar Chowdhury said, "From the Agriculture Office, we regularly provide advice on fertilizer, disease and insect control management."
