Wholesale flower sales double
Florists in Godkhali in Jessore have had cheerful days in the last few days as the sales of flowers went up ahead of Pahela Falgun and Valentine's Day celebrations. Sales of flowers surrounding the twin events have already doubled to Tk 8 crore from last year.
Godkhali is home to Bangladesh's largest flower wholesale market, accounting for about 70 percent of the total flower supply, according to industry people.
Farmers said both the production and the demand of flowers increased this year. As a result, they benefited from higher prices compared with last year. Last year, each stick of gerbera sold for Tk 10, which is now being sold at Tk 18, and roses are being sold for Tk 6-8 apiece, compared to Tk 3-5 last year, according to farmers.
Flowers were planted on 1,500 hectares in the district this year, said Abdur Rahim, president of Godkhali Flower Traders' Association.
Farmers produced different varieties including rose, gerbera, gladiola, tuberose and marigolds, eying the two festivals in particular, he said.
Last year's political turmoil had hurt sales, and farmers' profits. But this year both weather and the political situation are favourable, and the farmers are most likely to make good profits, said Rahim.
Traders from across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, made advance payments to farmers for flowers, and the supplies were delivered by Friday.
Flowers worth Tk 100 crore are sold in the district every year. Farmers are targeting sales of another Tk 8 crore ahead of International Mother Language Day on February 21, said Abdus Samad, an executive member of the traders' association.
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