Jhenaidah farmers gaining profit from flowers
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Our Correspondent
JHENAIDAH, Jan 16: Farmers in the Trilochonpur union of the district have started growing flowers instead of cultivating crops such as paddy and jute, because the returns brought more profit for them.
Flowers can be cultivated three times a year and are changing the fate of farmers in the region, growers and agriculture officials said.
"We are not starving anymore. We live in brick houses now," a flower grower said.
The villages that grow flowers include Trilochonpur, Baliadanga, Gobordanga, Boro-Ghighati, Chhoto-Ghighati, Gopinathpur, Fazilpur, Banuria and Talina.
Besides, Balabaria, Baluhar and Pallafulbari under Kotchandpur Upazila, and Ganna, Kacherkol and Paikpara in the district also grow flowers.
Flower faming is also spreading to other areas in Kaligonj Upazila and parts of the adjoining Chuadanga district and Jhikorgachha under Jessore district, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said.
According to the DAE statistics, out of some 2,400 bighas of land in the Trilochonpur union, about 2,300 bighas are now under flower cultivation.
The flowers are being marketed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and other cities and towns across the country.
People from 19 villages in the Trilochonpur union and neighbouring areas of the district sell flowers worth about Tk 1.7 million (17 lakh) a day, said Mr Razzak, a flower grower.
Union Parishad Chairman and flower grower Abdur Razzak of Baliadanga village said flower cultivation has brought a major change to the region.
Imtiaz Ali (50) said he sold flowers worth Tk 80,000 this year and is expected to earn an additional Tk 0.1 million, if weather permits.
Md Khairul Islam, a flower grower of Boro-Ghighati village, said he cultivated only six kathas of land, which cost him Tk 9,000 and sold flowers worth Tk 28,000 from it.
President of Flower Growers' Association in Baliadanga village Motiar Rahman said flower cultivation has improved the way of life in the region.
The Asia Foundation plays an important role in contacting authorities for overall privileges in this connection, he said.
Hundreds of women are earning around Tk 90 per day.
Farmers feel the need for government steps to solve the problems such as lack of preservation facilities, which involves large spending, scarcity of fertiliser and irrigation.
However, they hope training by experts will increase production and exports of flowers.
JHENAIDAH, Jan 16: Farmers in the Trilochonpur union of the district have started growing flowers instead of cultivating crops such as paddy and jute, because the returns brought more profit for them.
Flowers can be cultivated three times a year and are changing the fate of farmers in the region, growers and agriculture officials said.
"We are not starving anymore. We live in brick houses now," a flower grower said.
The villages that grow flowers include Trilochonpur, Baliadanga, Gobordanga, Boro-Ghighati, Chhoto-Ghighati, Gopinathpur, Fazilpur, Banuria and Talina.
Besides, Balabaria, Baluhar and Pallafulbari under Kotchandpur Upazila, and Ganna, Kacherkol and Paikpara in the district also grow flowers.
Flower faming is also spreading to other areas in Kaligonj Upazila and parts of the adjoining Chuadanga district and Jhikorgachha under Jessore district, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said.
According to the DAE statistics, out of some 2,400 bighas of land in the Trilochonpur union, about 2,300 bighas are now under flower cultivation.
The flowers are being marketed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and other cities and towns across the country.
People from 19 villages in the Trilochonpur union and neighbouring areas of the district sell flowers worth about Tk 1.7 million (17 lakh) a day, said Mr Razzak, a flower grower.
Union Parishad Chairman and flower grower Abdur Razzak of Baliadanga village said flower cultivation has brought a major change to the region.
Imtiaz Ali (50) said he sold flowers worth Tk 80,000 this year and is expected to earn an additional Tk 0.1 million, if weather permits.
Md Khairul Islam, a flower grower of Boro-Ghighati village, said he cultivated only six kathas of land, which cost him Tk 9,000 and sold flowers worth Tk 28,000 from it.
President of Flower Growers' Association in Baliadanga village Motiar Rahman said flower cultivation has improved the way of life in the region.
The Asia Foundation plays an important role in contacting authorities for overall privileges in this connection, he said.
Hundreds of women are earning around Tk 90 per day.
Farmers feel the need for government steps to solve the problems such as lack of preservation facilities, which involves large spending, scarcity of fertiliser and irrigation.
However, they hope training by experts will increase production and exports of flowers.