Farming of gladiolus flower turns profitable in Rajshahi

Farming of gladiolus flower has turned into a profitable venture for many poor farmers at Godagari upazila in the district as they have become self-reliant through its cultivation as an alternative crop on their farmland.

As a result, the commercial cultivation of gladiolus flower is gaining popularity among the farmers here.

“Gladiolus flowers of different colours can be grown in the same plot. The flower is harvested within 70 days off the plantation and grows all the year round,” said farmers.

Four categories of seeds including big, chaka (wheel), marble and small sizes, are found from a plant.

Kaiyum and his wife Nadira of Sonadighi village under Godagari upazila said, “We started cultivation of gladiolas flower on a small land in 2007. After getting good profit, we cultivated the flower on a leased one-bigha land.”

They further said, “We cultivated gladiolas flower of total 13 colours in the land. The demand and price of pink-coloured flowers is the most.”

They sowed 20,000 gladiolus seeds on one-bigha land spending one lakh taka and they are expecting to earn two and a half lakh taka by selling the flowers round the year, Kaiyum added.

“I will bring more lands under the cultivation this year and in this connection, I will take loan from the upazila agriculture office,” he informed

He sought government support for expanding the business and making a revolution in this sector.

Many other farmers said, the cultivation cost of this flower is relatively high, but the profit is higher.

At least 25 thousands sticks are harvested from one bigha and each stick is sold at Tk 5/6. Besides, four kinds of seeds collected from the plants are sold at fair prices. Thus the growers can earn more than two lakh taka from one-bigha land, the farmers added.

Deputy Agriculture Officer of Godagari upazila Ashraful Islam said, the cultivation of gladiolus needs a good amount of investment but it is much more profitable than traditional agricultural items.

Fusarium Blight is the main disease of this flower. Besides, some other diseases also attack this flower. If the farmers follow the instruction given by the agriculture office, the disease could be removed at least 95 per cent and the production will be much better, he added.

Ashraful Alam also said, the flower could be planted on courtyard, tub, roof and unused lands easily. As the soil of the upazila is suitable for this flower, so its farming could be more profitable.

He is giving all kinds of support to increase such type of initiatives, he mentioned.

CORRS/SMS/NS