Tareen Rahman :
Flower business has been witnessing a serious setback for the last one and a half months due to the ongoing countrywide hartals and blockade by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Flower growers, particularly in southern districts, are now worried about the recovery of their production cost, let alone profit, as prices of the perishable item see drastic fall due to transport problem.
This year, the flower traders could not make a brisk business on Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day due to the blockade, this correspondent was told by the traders amid frustration. The country’s major cities celebrate Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day every year with various cultural events as well as offering gift of flowers to their near and dear ones. Unlike the previous years, flower growers and sellers have made a very dull business this time because of the blockade, they said.
The flower shops in cities are generally found busy creating eye-catching bouquets, garlands and other floral concoctions for the buyers. The scenario was not much different this year too. However, a major frustration was echoed by most of the flower shop owners and growers as they could not do enough business this year due to violent political situation.
Flowers are mainly cultivated in the districts of Jessore, Kaliganj, Jhinaidah, Meherpur and Chuadanga.
A worried farmer told The New Nation yesterday: “Our business is failing because of the hartal and blockade. We are cultivating flowers almost regularly. But we are unable to transport those to the major city shops. What can we do? Our families are dependent on this business.”
On the eve of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day this time, only 20 to 30 per cent of our flowers have been sold, he said.
The farmer further added: “Although rose is being sold at a higher price this year, about 50 taka per piece from the regular selling price of 30 taka. Gadha flower marking the arrival of Spring season in our country is not getting better selling price than usual, he added. This correspondent while talking to a number of shop owners yesterday in the city’s Shahbagh area, where the major flower shops are located, also echoed the similar frustration. “We do not know how to make up this year’s loss. We are not getting enough business during these special events this year as expected,” they said.
Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Chairman of flower business community of Shahbagh area said, “Hartal and blockade has created panic among the citizens. They do not want to come out of their houses. There is poor number of customers in the flower shops now.” He also said, “‘People buy flowers for marriage ceremonies, gaye holud and other occasions. Political unrest is causing people to shift dates of such events. This is damaging our regular business. The charm is less this year for cultural events like Pohela Falgun and Valentine’s Day.”
The flower traders viewed that hartal and blockade programmes have curtailed the enthusiasm of common people who are generous about spending money for these events. “Although the young generation is buying flowers to express their zeal, the scenario is not as normal in the past years.”
