Flower growers in Jhenaidah are facing deep disappointment over falling prices even during Victory Day, traditionally one of the peak periods for flower sales, as the district goes through the height of its ornamental flower cultivation season amid weak demand and market uncertainty.
For the past few weeks, prices of flowers in several markets across Jhenaidah have remained at rock bottom, frustrating farmers who had taken special care of their fields and aimed for maximum production in anticipation of better returns during Victory Day, Valentine’s Day and February 21, widely known as International Mother Language Day.
Traders said demand for flowers in major markets such as Dhaka and Chattogram has dropped sharply this year due to the country’s unstable situation, affecting prices across producing regions.
A visit to local markets showed that flower haats are held every morning at Ganna Bazaar in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila, Kamalhat and Baliadanga in Kaliganj, and Nepar Mor, Samanta and Jinnanagar in Moheshpur, where marigold flowers have been selling throughout December at prices ranging between Tk10 and Tk50 per bunch.
Roses and tuberoses, however, are fetching comparatively better prices, offering some relief to farmers cultivating those varieties.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Jhenaidah, flowers have been cultivated on 190 hectares of land in the district during the current Rabi season, including 27 hectares in Jhenaidah Sadar, 75 hectares in Kaliganj, 36 hectares in Kotchandpur and 52 hectares in Moheshpur.
Farmers in these areas are growing marigold, rose, tuberose, gerbera, chrysanthemum, gladiolus and lily, with marigold accounting for about 85 per cent of the total flower cultivation.
Nazrul Islam, a flower farmer from Paikpara village of Ganna Union in Jhenaidah Sadar, said he has marigold cultivation on four bighas of land this year, similar to previous seasons.
“Every year we get good prices during Victory Day, Valentine’s Day and February 21, and we take care of our crops keeping those occasions in mind,” he said, adding that prices have remained low throughout December.
He said cultivation costs exceed Tk60,000 per bigha for seedlings, fertiliser, pesticides and maintenance, while a disease-free field produces around 2,000 bunches per bigha.
Nazrul explained that each bunch contains ten garlands of 36 inches, with workers charging Tk20 per bunch for picking flowers and making garlands, while thread and transportation add another Tk10, bringing the cost of taking one bunch to market to Tk30, excluding production expenses.
“When the selling price of each bunch is only Tk10 to Tk50, how are farmers supposed to survive,” he asked.
Kamrul Islam of Ikra village in Kotchandpur Upazila said he has spent about Tk1.5 lakh so far cultivating marigold on three bighas of land, with more costs still ahead.
“For the past month, I have been producing 150 to 170 bunches daily, but current prices do not even cover labour and transport costs,” he said, adding that not harvesting the flowers would also damage the field.
Anichur Rahman, a farmer from the Kamalhat area of Kaliganj Upazila, said peak production has coincided with a lack of buyers, leaving him disillusioned after cultivating marigold on nearly two bighas in hopes of profit.
Masum Billah from the Nepa area of Moheshpur said he started marigold cultivation a few years ago due to good returns, but this year he does not expect to recover even half of his investment.
He said bunches have rarely sold above Tk30 and are now going for Tk10, while farmers growing tuberose, rose or yellow Basanti marigold are receiving better prices of Tk70 to Tk90 per bunch.
“At times it feels better to discard the flowers than sell them, as garland-making and transport costs would be saved,” he said.
Flower trader Adam Ali of Ganna Bazaar said several traders sent four truckloads of flowers to Dhaka recently but failed to sell them, adding that demand remained weak even around Victory Day.
Another trader, Daud Hossain, said market conditions are extremely poor, though traders are still buying from regular suppliers according to grade despite difficulties selling in other markets.
He said flowers are mainly ornamental items used in weddings, national days and cultural or political programmes, but demand has been unusually low, even during Martyred Intellectuals Day.
Jhenaidah Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Kamruzzaman said flowers grown by farmers are environmentally friendly compared to paper or plastic alternatives and that cultivation has been expanding every year.
He said flowers were cultivated on 398 hectares across the district during the combined Kharif-1 and Rabi seasons, but the absence of cold storage facilities prevents farmers from preserving flowers when prices are low.
“If cold storage were available, farmers could avoid losses by selling later when prices improve,” he said, adding that flowers have become one of Jhenaidah’s key cash crops and government initiatives to establish cold storage would greatly benefit growers.
Jhenaidah Agricultural Marketing Officer Shariful Islam said flower demand has declined due to fewer meetings, seminars and social events nationwide, keeping prices low for nearly a month.
He said the department has set up two assembly centres for flower farmers and linked them with a sales centre in Gabtoli, Dhaka, but many farmers still prefer selling to traders in local markets.
