Special Correspondent :
Annual sales of flower have reached Tk 1,600 crore following an exponential expansion in the flower business across the country, insiders said.
They said the size of the business has increased manifold over the last decade as everybody seems to be saying it with flowers – be it a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, an official conference and even on the occasion of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.
The flower market yesterday had buyers not just for the traditional jasmine, roses or marigold, but also exotic gladioli, carnations, lilies, tube-roses, ger-beras, asters, candy tufts, lady’s lace, and even orchids and anthoriums.
Presently, there are more than 6,000 small and large flower shops across the country. The capital also has more than 600 flower shops, mostly located at the Shahbagh Avenue.
Besides, hundreds of makeshift shops are also being mushroomed surrounding the city involving many youths ahead of big occasions like Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.
Flowers are now being commercially grown in over 6,000 hectares of land across the country, according to Bangladesh Flower Society, the central platform for flower growers.
Locally produced flowers can meet the country’s annual demand right now though some varieties are still coming from abroad. Seventy per cent of the total demand of flowers is supplied from Jhikorgachha and Gadkhal of Jashore, one of the leading flower trading hubs in the country.
“The demands for flowers are rising tremendously ahead of special days like Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day. Last year, flowers worth Tk 200 crore were sold on these two occasions,” President of Flower Society Abdur Rahim told The New Nation.
“We expect a similar business this time also with a sales turnover may be hitting over Tk 200 crore,” he added.
According to him, demands for flower also go up manifold on the occasions of New Year Day, International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, Victory Day and during the traditional religious festivals.
When asked Abdur Rahim said, “The total size of business is expected to grow further taking advantage of people’s fascination for flowers. Besides, we need policy supports from the government to sustain our business.”
He also urged the government to build adequate number of cold storages in major flower growing areas in the country and open a wholesale flower market in Dhaka to help flourish the potential sector further.
Currently, flowers are being cultivated commercially in 23 districts across the country, involving 1.5 lakh farmers.
“People are now getting more involve in commercial flower cultivation due to an exponential expansion in the flower business in the recent years,” former FBCCI President Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) told The New Nation.
He said the total size of the business continue to grow taking advantage of rising demands for flowers in the country.
“Flower is being cultivated here mostly in unorganized manner and thus creates obstacle for smooth growth of the potential sector. If an organized farming process puts in place, the sector can create more business opportunity and offer export potential,” observed Mohiuddin.
Annual sales of flower have reached Tk 1,600 crore following an exponential expansion in the flower business across the country, insiders said.
They said the size of the business has increased manifold over the last decade as everybody seems to be saying it with flowers – be it a birthday, a wedding, an anniversary, an official conference and even on the occasion of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.
The flower market yesterday had buyers not just for the traditional jasmine, roses or marigold, but also exotic gladioli, carnations, lilies, tube-roses, ger-beras, asters, candy tufts, lady’s lace, and even orchids and anthoriums.
Presently, there are more than 6,000 small and large flower shops across the country. The capital also has more than 600 flower shops, mostly located at the Shahbagh Avenue.
Besides, hundreds of makeshift shops are also being mushroomed surrounding the city involving many youths ahead of big occasions like Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.
Flowers are now being commercially grown in over 6,000 hectares of land across the country, according to Bangladesh Flower Society, the central platform for flower growers.
Locally produced flowers can meet the country’s annual demand right now though some varieties are still coming from abroad. Seventy per cent of the total demand of flowers is supplied from Jhikorgachha and Gadkhal of Jashore, one of the leading flower trading hubs in the country.
“The demands for flowers are rising tremendously ahead of special days like Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day. Last year, flowers worth Tk 200 crore were sold on these two occasions,” President of Flower Society Abdur Rahim told The New Nation.
“We expect a similar business this time also with a sales turnover may be hitting over Tk 200 crore,” he added.
According to him, demands for flower also go up manifold on the occasions of New Year Day, International Mother Language Day, Independence Day, Victory Day and during the traditional religious festivals.
When asked Abdur Rahim said, “The total size of business is expected to grow further taking advantage of people’s fascination for flowers. Besides, we need policy supports from the government to sustain our business.”
He also urged the government to build adequate number of cold storages in major flower growing areas in the country and open a wholesale flower market in Dhaka to help flourish the potential sector further.
Currently, flowers are being cultivated commercially in 23 districts across the country, involving 1.5 lakh farmers.
“People are now getting more involve in commercial flower cultivation due to an exponential expansion in the flower business in the recent years,” former FBCCI President Md. Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) told The New Nation.
He said the total size of the business continue to grow taking advantage of rising demands for flowers in the country.
“Flower is being cultivated here mostly in unorganized manner and thus creates obstacle for smooth growth of the potential sector. If an organized farming process puts in place, the sector can create more business opportunity and offer export potential,” observed Mohiuddin.
