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Ban flower import, patronise export

Commercial cultivation by 5000 Jessore farmers: No govt step to export: Market glut from import, smuggling

A Correspondent, Jessore
Twenty years ago, seeing bundles of flowers flowing into the country from across the border, young Sher Ali Sarder had cultivated 'rajanigandha' (tube rose) on half a bigha of land in Panishara village in Jhikargachha upazila.
The silent revolution he initiated with hard labour has borne fruit over the years without any government help what so ever.
Commercial flower cultivation is now a profitable occupation for over 5000 farmers in Jessore district alone.
Spreading from Jhikargachha and Sarsha upazilas in Jessore, different flowers are being cultivated commercially also in neighbouring districts including Rajshahi and Rangpur, engaging over three lakh people in related trade and opening up export potential.
But the flow of flowers from across the border has not stopped. It is now threatening the viable agri-subsector while the government is still unconcerned.
Farmers and traders this correspondent talked to in Jessore are now one in their voice: Stop import and smuggling, promote export.
Bangladeshi flowers have good export potential in Middle East and Europe. It can be a good forex earner like frozen food, vegetables and garments if the government gives a little attention, they claim.
Flower cultivation and trade mainly attract young people.
A least Tk one lakh can be earned by growing flowers on one bigha (33 decimals) of land in each season.
But at times growers incur heavy losses due to glut in the market from import and smuggling from India ahead of important national celebrations like the International Mother Language Day on February 21, Pahela Baishakh (Bangla New Year), English New Year, Eid and Valentine's Day.
Sher Ali had started with bare hands and without any experience and knowledge.
"I had gone to the Upazila Agriculture Officer and the Block Supervisor (of Agriculture Extension Department) for advice. But they were like me, knowing nothing about flower cultivation.
"After 20 years, the situation is the same now.
"Agriculture officials are of no use. Government does not feel the necessity to train officials and farmers in flower cultivation", he said while taking to this correspondent at Godhkhali Bazar, a big flower market along the
JessoreBenapole.
Flower growers have learnt from experiment and experience, he said.
Fortune slimed on Sher Ali when trading in indigenous flowers began in 1988.
He then encouraged others to cultivate flowers. Although he started with only 'rajanigandha', now all varieties of flowers including tube rose (pine rajanigandha), marigold, roses of various colours and other seasonal flowers are cultivation in the country.
A body styled Flower Farmers and Traders Association has been formed.
The Godhkhali Bazar is now a big flower market where sellers and traders from far and near come early in the morning. About 85 per cent demand of flowers in the country is met up by farmers in Jessore.
Md. Shahjahan of Haria village in Jhaikargaetta said flower cultivation is more profitable than any other crop. In peak periods, marigold is sold at between Tk 300 and 400 per 1000. A flower grower can earn about Tk one lakh in a season from one bigha of land, he said.
Trader Akbor Ali of Baisha village under Navaran said he bought flowers for supply to markets in Dhaka and Chittagong. He said rose is sold at Tk 140 to 160 per 100 at wholesale market.
Md Ershad of the Association said flower growers in Jessore were the first to graft 'jhau' plant.
Despite such tremendous success, farmers do not get any assistance from the government, he said.
"Banning import and promoting export would be the greatest assistance", he said.
He said India exports flowers to several countries including Bangladesh. Farmers there get government patronisation, he claimed.
The growers and traders said some Dhaka-based traders import flowers from India on important national occasions. There is smuggling too.
The growers said they suffer for want of seeds and lack technical knowledge, marketing facilities and cold storage facilities for preservation during peak harvesting reasons.
Growers said they still do experiment in controlling pest attack.
Training agriculture officials on pest control will greatly help us, they said.