The ongoing countrywide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has forced the flowers cultivated by a farmer in Naogaon to wither and die because ofa lack of sales.
Abu Taleb Mondol Zakaria, a flower cultivator in the district's Dhamoirhat area, took loans from banks as well as a non-government organization (NGO) to grow and sell flowers in the first quarter of the year, usually considered the peak time for flower sales.
However, a lack of sales has forced him to incur heavy losses, he told Dhaka Tribune.
He said eight full time employees and over 200 seasonal labourers work at his two flower orchards throughout the year.
"This year I took hefty loans from an NGO and a bank to expand my cultivation in two orchards, one a four acre orchard and another 13 acres," he added.
The flower cultivator said he usually sold his produce in the district, as well as in Rajshahi, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Bogra and other places.
"Flower sales peak during the first quarter of the year, from January to April, as several important occasions demand flowers such as International Mother Language Day, the National Independence Day, PohelaFalgun, Valentine's Day and PohelaBoishakh," he mentioned.
He recollected how sales were brisk during last year's National Victory Day in December, but sales nosedived afterwards since the coronavirus outbreak began.
"With the flowers I had cultivated this year, I could have easily earned Tk8-10 lakh," he lamented.
With no other source of income, he had no other option but to file an application with the local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office for government support.
Selim Reza, agriculture officer at Dhamoirhat DAE office, said the coronavirus prevented flowers from being sold from the region.
"The government has announced funds from its stimulus package, which also includes entrepreneurs such as Taleb. His orchards are located at Joypurhat, and he would have to apply for funds from that region's DAE office. But we will provide from our end if required," he added.
