A large number of farmers in Rajshahi are passing a busy time in farming flowers on a commercial basis as they are getting a good yield and price.
The farming of different varieties of flowers including gladiolus, marigold, rose, tuberose and gerbera is gaining popularity across the region during the current season.
Owing to the lucrative market price, the farmers are getting more involved in cultivating flowers, said officials of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
The cultivation of gladiolus flower has turned a boon for Kayum Ali, a farmer of Godagari Upazila. He said he made a huge profit in 2012 farming this variety of flower.
"I have cultivated the flower on one and half bighas of land spending around Taka 25,000 this year and already sold flower worth Taka 1.80 lakh," Kayum said.
He said with a smiling face that he is hopeful to make profit of around Taka 1.85 lakh in a season and increase the acreage in the years to come.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiqul Islam said soil and environment of Barind area is suitable for flower farming.
There is enormous scope of boosting flower yield if timely irrigation and fertilisation was ensured, he added.
The DAE has adopted necessary measures for providing trainings to the farmers for expansion of flower farming in the region, reports BSS.
Deb Dulal Dhali, Deputy Director of DAE, said there is a big market for flowers in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and other neighbouring districts.
Gladiolus sticks of different colours like white, red, yellow, scarlet, pink, violet, rosy, lipstick and blue are grown in the same plot, flower growers said. The flower can be harvested within 70 days and it grows all over the year, they added.
Business leaders and Agriculturists have suggested boosting cultivation of indigenous flowers to reduce dependence on import as the demand of flowers has recently been increased sharply in the region.