Shahbag Flower market, the largest wholesale and retail flower market in the country is experiencing a drastic fall in the sale of flower due to corona pandemic this year.
The flower market usually sells about Tk 70 crores flower every year on February 21 on the occasion of Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day but this year it came down to Tk 30 crores due to covid-19 crisis. In the retail market, the sale came down to Tk 15 Lakh while it was Tk 50 Lakh last year.
Around three hundred enlisted traders of Dhaka Kalyan Samiti leads the wholesale market. Besides, there are around 50 flower shops in the retail market.
The florist, especially the farmer who are eagerly waiting for three occasions including Pahela Falgun, valentine's day, and International Mother Language day during February have faced great losses because of low sale this year.
Shree Babul Prashad, the president of Dhaka Kallayan Samithi, an organization of Shahbagh wholesale flower traders, said to Bangladesh Post, "In the 21st of February of the last year, we sold Tk 70 crore and now we have struggled to sell Tk 30 crore. Last year we sold around 65 crores in Valentine day and Fahela Falgun but this year it came down to Tk 45 crore though we hoped to get at least Tk 55 crore."
"Our collection is very good today. We have supplied more than valentine's week, but demand is far low than the previous year. It’s a very unsettling situation for both flower traders and farmers," added Babul Prashad.
According to Babul, closure of educational institutions, ban on different expositions and fairs, marriage ceremony arranged at the family stage, absence of the month-long Bangla Academy Amar Ekushey Boimela, the decline in income of many people, and lower baguet for government program are the main factors behind the dull business.
Shamim, secretary of Shahbah Bot Tola Khudro Fhul Babshayee Somobay Samiti, told Bangladesh Post that the same day of last year, they sold Tk 50 lakh. Now they are having difficulty to reach 15 lakh.
“Due to the closure of the educational institution, we lost the main part of our customer, but the political situation is now good. We hope our business not so bad at a limited stage," he added.
Raihan Ahmed, a flower trader of Shahbagh Flower stocked Tk 50,000 flower. But he has faced a slumping situation to sale due to less demand.
Abdu Sukkur, a farmer of Ghudkhali told Bangladesh Post that he has cultivated roses of different varieties, marigold, bela (beli), Jarbera, gladiolus, tuberose, and chrysanthemum (chandramallika).
“Due to the coronavirus crisis, we had to undergo a downturn situation. But we were hopeful for February. This month is our main monsoon. Though we have cultivated enough, the demand and price both are low now. So, we still cannot but face crisis moments.
Bangladesh introduced commercial floriculture in the early ’90s. At present, flowers are cultivated on 6,000 hectares of land in 24 districts including Jashore, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Cumilla.
About 15 to 20 lakh people are earning their livelihood through floriculture. A wide variety of flowers, especially tuberose, gladiolus, rose, marigold, lotus, gerbera, hyacinth, chrysanthemum, lily, etc. are now being commercially cultivated in Bangladesh.
