Benapole Correspondent :
Flower growers in Gadkhali of Jhikargachha Upazila in Jashore distict fear loss due to Omicron. Outbreak of corona for two years, they growers were weaving new dreams after recovering from the cyclone Amphan and two rounds of unseasonal rain.
Omicron has once again alarmed florists.
Although the farmers got some price on Victory Day, the price has started decreasing with the rise of Omicron.
The flower growers of Gadkhali, famous as the flower capital, usually celebrate Victory Day, Pahela Fulgun, New Year and Valentine Day,
They cultivated it on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Martyr’s Day and Independence Day.
According to him, the farmers started cultivating this season to make up for the loss of two years corona. They also got the desired price on the victory day on 16th December.
But the new variant of Corona Omicron has scared them.
The price at which flowers were sold before the Omicron outbreak has dropped to 1 in 4.
At present, marigolds are being sold at TK. 200 per thousand in the market, which was TK. 800 to TK. 900 last week.
Rose are being sold for Tk 2 per piece, which has been sold for Tk 4 to 6 before.
Rajnigandha is being sold at Tk 5 to 6 each, which was earlier Tk 7 to 10 .
Colorful gladiolus is being sold at Tk 8 to 9 per pics, which was earlier Tk 9 to 15.
Gerberas are being sold at Tk 7 to 8 , which was earlier Tk 8 to 15 per bundle.
Kaminipata is being sold at Tk 30 to Tk40 per bundle, which was earlier Tk 50 to Tk 60.
Gypsy flower are being sold at Tk20 to Tk30, which used to be sold at Tk 30 to Tk45.
Florist Selim Reza said social events have declined due to government directives to increase Omicron. This has reduced the demand for flowers, the price is lower.
In a shed in Hariya field, eight types of gerberas are blooming like flower stars.
Shahjahan Ali was tending this field. He will pick these flowers before the next three days.
Ratul Mandal Shahjan Ali said, with the rise of Omicron, the price of flowers has come down.
So even if it is like picking flowers, I am not picking them. If the price is good, then the gerbera flowers of this shade will be sold for Tk 2 lakh .
And the two bighas that have gladiolus and one bigha of marigolds will be able to sell flowers for Tk four to Tk five lakh .
Phulkanan Panisara can be seen in the field, florist Azizur Rahman Sardar is picking weeds in the field. He has one bigha of gerbera, chrysanthemum, china rose, 10 katha of gladiolus and 15 katha of marigold.
The florist said that he had sold flowers worth Tk1.5 lakh on the last Victory Day after recovering from the outbreak of coronavirus, cyclone Amphan and two unseasonal rains.
I hope to be able to sell flowers for at least four lakh taka in the next three days.
However, with the rise of Omicron, the price of flowers has come down. If prices fall further and the lockdown begins, the debt will fall into an extreme financial crisis.
Azizur Rahman from Balla said that despite having flowers worth lakhs of taka to eat during Corona, the family had to sell tin sheds to make a living.
If that happens again with Omicron, then we have to sit on the road.
In Gadkhali area of Jhikargachha, 11 types of flowers are cultivated commercially in 1,200 hectares of land. The cultivation of Extroma and Lilium has been started experimentally.
One and a half lakh people from 800 families in the area are involved in floriculture.
About flowers worth Tk 3.2 cr are sold in this region every year. About 70% of the flowers produced in the country are grown in this region.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Masud Hossain said the government was encouraging farmers to overcome the covit-19 losses. The price of flowers has come down due to the
new Omicron. Considering the condition of the farmers, incentives will be given again.
