At least 1,500 flower growers in the district have been facing a tough time recently as incessant heavy downpour damaged their gardens vastly.
Consequently, they have incurred huge loss due to the untoward move of nature.
Sources at the local agriculture office said about 265-hector was under flower cultivation this season. Of the figure, 85-hector in Kaliganj upazila, 65-hector in Sadar upazila while 30 in Harinakundo upazila, 45 in Moheshpur upazila and 40 in Kotchandpur upazila.
Around 70% of the flower plots in the six upazilas have been damaged, sources added.
Abdur Razzak, former UP chairman and a flower grower from Baroghighati village, said he cultivated marigold on a land of 5- bigha this year at a cost of Tk1.5 lakh and earlier he has already earned Tk1 lakh from the plot.
If the weather remained good, he could sell flowers of Tk4 lakh more but the plot is inundated by the unusual rain during last couple of days.
Another farmer named Abul Hossain of Baliadanga village said he took one-bigha land on lease and cultivated flowers at a cost of Tk20,000. Finally, he managed to earn Tk15,000 from the unit.
In this circumstance, the price of flowers became three times higher duo to the scarcity.
When contacted, several growers, namely Islam Hossain, Mollik Mondol, Abdus salam and Shariful Islam echoed the aforesaid statement.
In this regard, local Flower Grower Association President Motiar Rahman said: “The flower growers are worried due to damaging their plots because of excessively rain water. Most of them have taken loan from different NGOs.
“How they will repay the loan and maintain their family.”
Jhenidah Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Shah Akramul Haq said excessive rain compelled the flower growers to incur a big loss as their plots have got inundated.
Though the price of flower was high, but they would not be able to sell flowers any longer, the official continued.
