Tulip farming opens up new horizons

In Bangladesh, tulips are being grown in Sariyaljot and Darjipara villages of Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh border and also in Gadkhali of Jashore, famous as flower capital, during winter, reports UNB.
Tulips grow best in full sun in the North and partial shade in the South. Tulip bulbs, pointed end up, need to be planted in well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7, according to experts.
And this climate and soil can be found in Bangladesh too.
Last year, in Gazipur, a local flower farmer Md Delowar Hossain cultivated tulips for the first time in his garden -- 'Moumita Flowers'. But now, the dazzling display of tulips has now enveloped the landscape of northern parts of the country.
Farmers in Sariyaljot and Darjipara villages of Tentulia said, "Tulip's buds come in just 18 days of nurture and start blooming in 20-21 days".
Agriculturists say this plant is a perennial and tuber species that belongs to the family Liliaceae. In the case of tulip flower cultivation, it is tolerant to 15 degrees Celsius during daytime and 10 degrees Celsius at night. The buds of this flower come within 18-20 days from the day of planting and last for 25-60 days.
A meeting with journalists was held on January 26 at Tetulia Mahananda Cottage on Eco-Social Development Organization's (ESDO) value chain pilot project to determine the feasibility of expanding tulip flower cultivation in the northern part of the country.
ESDO Senior Assistant Programme Coordinator (APC) and Tulip Flower Cultivation Project Coordinator Md Ainul Haque discussed various aspects of the project.
He said, "The ESDO, a non-governmental development partner organisation in collaboration with the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), under the Valuation Piloting Project to determine the feasibility of expanding tulip flower cultivation in the northern part of the country".
Around 40,000 bulbs brought from the Netherlands have been planted in three plots on 40 decimals of land of eight marginal farmers of Sharialjot and Darjipara villages of Tetulia union of Tetulia upazila.
Tulip flower bulbs (seeds) were officially planted on January 01 this year in the presence of ESDO Executive Director Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman, Director (Administration) Selima Akhtar and other officials of the Department of Agriculture.
"Besides the bulbs, we provided the farmers with free chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, husks, shade nets and fencing nets. Besides, it has been developed by cultivating flowers in the hands of farmers," said Project Coordinator Md Ainul Haque.
Flower growers said they planted tulips in winter although it is a spring flower abroad.
Meanwhile, in Jashore's Godkhali, tulips have been planted experimentally in only five decimals of land. About a month after sowing the bulbs, tulips started blooming.
Many did not even imagine that foreign flowers would be cultivated in this region.
Flower grower Ismail Hossain said, "The dazzling tulips of different colours have started blooming in his garden from the second week of January".
Due to low temperature in winter in Panchagarh district, there is huge potential for cultivation of tulips.
Mukta Begum, Anwara Begum, Sumi Akter, Ayesha Begum, Hosneara Begum, Monowara Begum, Morsheda Begum and Sajeda Begum, all female members of ESDO and farmers of Sharialjot and Darjipara villages of Tentulia, have proved that possibility.
They said, "The total cost of bulbs or seedlings, shed nets, fencing nets, chemical fertilizers, organic fertilisers, pesticides and labour costs is around Tk 3 to 3.2 million (30 to 32 lakh). The bulbs or seeds from the Netherlands were bought at Tk 61.80 per flower for the cultivation", said ESDO Senior Assistant Programme Coordinator.
If 40,000 tulip flowers can be sold at the rate of Tk 100, the farmers will earn Tk 0.8 million (8 lakh) in just two months from 40 decimals of land.
At other times of the year, locals and exotic flowers can be cultivated in these lands. They have also created a small amusement park in the flower garden and introduced entrance fees for tourists and flower lovers. In this way, they can earn extra money without selling flowers, said the female flower growers.
Success in planting and growing tulips in Panchagarh as the Himalayan daughter or winter-prone region has raised the possibility of exporting tulips to meet the local demand in the future. They said they will cultivate tulips on about five decimals of land next year if they make a financial profit by selling flowers.
According to the farmers, the main obstacle in the cultivation of tulips is that the bulbs or seeds of these flowers are not available in Bangladesh.
It costs a lot of money to bring these flower bulbs from abroad. "If we can import duty-free bulbs, the cultivation of this flower will increase. The farmers demanded easy supply of tulip bulbs at low prices, easy loans for floriculture and modern training," said the farmers.