Special Correspondent :
Floriculturists of Jashore’s Godkhali, the ‘flower capital of Bangladesh, have earned Tk 15 crore from the sale of flowers ahead of the Pahela Falgun, Valentine’s Day this year.
These two events created a huge demand for flowers which started from February 12, according to farmers and traders.
Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day was celebrated across the country on Monday.
Jessore’s Godkhali floriculturists said this year’s flower yield has been good and they got good prices from their production.
Earlier, the flower growers of the upazila suffered huge financial loss owing to countrywide pandemic lockdowns and restrictions of holding wedding ceremonies and social and cultural functions.
Flower shops were closed at several times across the country, including the capital Dhaka, during the said period.
“After two years, the days of flower traders are back. Farmers have sold flowers worth Tk 15 crore on the eve of Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day,”Abdur Rahim, president of Godkhali Flower Dealers’ Society, told The New Nation yesterday.
He added, “Eventually the demands for flowers have increased across the country taking advantage of an improved pandemic situation as well as Pahela Falgun and Valentine’s Day. The prices of flowers have also increased remarkably creating an opportunity to make up for the previous losses.”
According to Rahim, flowers worth Tk 10 crore were sold in Gadkhali wholesale market from February 8-12. And flowers worth Tk 5 crore sold on 13th and 14th February.
He also said that a large quantity of flowers will also be sold out on the eve of International Mother Language Day.
The wholesale flower market in Godkhali caters to the demand of 52 districts of the country. After meeting the local demand, the flowers of the upazila are exported to the UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and South Korea.
The farmers of Godkhali cultivate around 15 types of flowers, including rose, gerbera, gladiolus, tuberose, and marigold.
Farmers of the upazila started growing flowers in 1982.
