A Correspondent :
Once upon a time, it was quite impossible to cultivate flower in the hills but a farmer of Marma community Uthoaiching became successful by cultivating flowers at Bikri Chhara area in Sadar Upazila of the district.
Now, other farmers are getting interest in cultivating flowers in the hilly areas.
After visiting, different varieties of flowers including dahlia, rose, marigold, and tube rose were found to bloom in a garden at Bikri Chhara area. Uthoaching and his family were seen busy in nursing the garden.
Uthoaiching said, “I gave up my study after passing SSC in 1971 and began jhum cultivation with my parents. I started commercial cultivation of flowers on 20 decimal of land in 2016. My wife and children helped me in cultivating flowers. I planted dahlia, rose, tube rose and marigold after collecting their saplings from local horticulture office. I bought each dahlia plant at Tk 10 and each rose plant at Tk 20. After getting suggestion from local agriculture department, I sold the flowers at Tk 20,000 at local market.” He further said, “Basically I started nursing garden in a small-scale and producing and grafting saplings in 1971. My dream project actually started since then”.
The flower vendors of Hathazari Upazila in Chittagong District started to buy dahlia, rose and marigold from me. I sold per piece rose at Tk 10 and marigold at Tk 2 to 3. I sold 1,200 dahlias at Tk 12,000 in the beginning of the year. I got order of Tk 50,000 this month.”
Uthoaiching Marma said, “After getting recognition as a flower farmer, many people came to me to buy flowers from long distance. The demand goes high during any government and non-government programme. I become happy when local people come to buy flowers from me. Besides, I have benefitted economically.”
Local resident Hlaching Marma said Uthoaching’s flower garden is the first garden in the area. Many people are interested now after seeing his success.
Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension Mohammad Altaf Hossain said, the commercial flower cultivation is possible in the lands where irrigation is possible, but the locals are not fully aware of it. “If the flower is cultivated in a large-scale, the economic development will get new dimension,” the DD added.
Once upon a time, it was quite impossible to cultivate flower in the hills but a farmer of Marma community Uthoaiching became successful by cultivating flowers at Bikri Chhara area in Sadar Upazila of the district.
Now, other farmers are getting interest in cultivating flowers in the hilly areas.
After visiting, different varieties of flowers including dahlia, rose, marigold, and tube rose were found to bloom in a garden at Bikri Chhara area. Uthoaching and his family were seen busy in nursing the garden.
Uthoaiching said, “I gave up my study after passing SSC in 1971 and began jhum cultivation with my parents. I started commercial cultivation of flowers on 20 decimal of land in 2016. My wife and children helped me in cultivating flowers. I planted dahlia, rose, tube rose and marigold after collecting their saplings from local horticulture office. I bought each dahlia plant at Tk 10 and each rose plant at Tk 20. After getting suggestion from local agriculture department, I sold the flowers at Tk 20,000 at local market.” He further said, “Basically I started nursing garden in a small-scale and producing and grafting saplings in 1971. My dream project actually started since then”.
The flower vendors of Hathazari Upazila in Chittagong District started to buy dahlia, rose and marigold from me. I sold per piece rose at Tk 10 and marigold at Tk 2 to 3. I sold 1,200 dahlias at Tk 12,000 in the beginning of the year. I got order of Tk 50,000 this month.”
Uthoaiching Marma said, “After getting recognition as a flower farmer, many people came to me to buy flowers from long distance. The demand goes high during any government and non-government programme. I become happy when local people come to buy flowers from me. Besides, I have benefitted economically.”
Local resident Hlaching Marma said Uthoaching’s flower garden is the first garden in the area. Many people are interested now after seeing his success.
Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension Mohammad Altaf Hossain said, the commercial flower cultivation is possible in the lands where irrigation is possible, but the locals are not fully aware of it. “If the flower is cultivated in a large-scale, the economic development will get new dimension,” the DD added.
