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High airfreight charges plague flower export

ZAHIDUL HAQUE
High airfreight charges are stymieing the growth of flower export, entrepreneurs said.
Reduction in airfreight charges can increase the flower export volume from current Tk 1.5-2 crore to Tk 5-6 crore a year, they hoped.
Now, the exporters are to pay Tk 311 in freight charges to send a kg of flower to the United Kingdom, one of the major export destinations.
Exporters said the charges are high for the still fledgling export item. Besides, the system of determining a unit shipment discourages exporters to go for exploring new markets, they added.
Currently, exporters are to carry minimum 250kg of flowers to make a shipment, which is equal to that of vegetable export, said Rakibul Bari Khan, a manager at the floriculture wing of Brac, a leading flower grower in Bangladesh.
"But as flower export is in its nascent stage, it is very difficult for small growers to go for such a big volume of export," he said.
He said exporters are to pay charges for 250kg even if their shipment weight is less than 250kg.
According to Babul Prasad, president of Bangladesh Flowers Association, a platform of flower producers and traders, Bangladesh exports flowers worth Tk 1.5 to 2 crore a year to the UK, Thailand, the Netherlands, KSA and Italy.
Prasad urged the government to invite consultants who can help growers in flower production, as government does for agriculture sector. The consultants can help exporters in the marketing front also, he added.
Bangladesh exports locally produced chrysanthemum, rose, carnation and orchid, among others, which are grown from imported plants.
"Flower is a perishable item but most of us lack expertise in preservation mechanism to keep flower fresh. We need government's help in this matter," said Abul Kalam, who runs a flower shop in the capital's Bailey Road area.
In Dhaka, traders use mainly footpaths of Shahbagh, Kataban, Dhanmondi, Lalmatia, Gulshan and Baily Road for selling varieties of flowers including sunflower, lily, tuberose, cherry, China rose, marigold, primrose, red China rose, gardenia, jasmine, gladiola and tulip.
They sell around 150-250 tons of
flowers a day in Dhaka during the peak season of October-April while 125-150 tons during MaySeptember, considered off-peak period.
Savar, Narayngang, Jessore, Satkharia, Chuadanga and Jhenidah are some of the major flower producing areas in Bangladesh.