Flowers brighten the lives of Bogra growers

Across Bogra's Sonatola upazila flower farms are bringing prosperity and self-reliance to growers and their families. Flower markets are crowded with school and college students, office-goers and others keen to buy gladioli, tuberoses, red roses, marigolds, gerberas and other floral varieties. Such enthusiastic public demand can only leave commercial flower growers pleased.

“I have grown flowers on 50 decimals,” says Montezar Rahman from Sonatola's Chomorgaca. “I hope to earn more than Tk 2.5 lakh from the crop.”

“I have cultivated flowers for a few years now,” says Shalikuzzaman from Shujaitpur. “In nearby areas like Bamunia and Nagarpara flower farming has helped many unemployed people to achieve self-reliance.”

“Since the sudden death of my father,” says flower merchant Tuhin Mia, “I have responsibility for the family. We have no land but I have been able to cover family expenses satisfactorily thanks to profits from trading flowers.”

The Department of Agricultural Extension in Sonatola reports that at least 22 farmers from five villages have dedicated around 20 bighas of land to flower cultivation this season. Flowers have proved to be more profitable than other crops and the industry also offers new employment opportunity in the community.

“There's a lot of interest in flower cultivation in this area recently,” says Sonatola's upazila agriculture officer Shalah Uddin Sardar. “It's a profitable thing to do.” Indeed, in addition to good demand and favourable prices, farmers also benefit from the low production cost of flowers and a short harvest time, with blooms ready within three months.