Flower cultivators

For flower cultivators, winter is an auspicious season. This period is replete with social and national occasions like weddings and Victory Day celebrations when the demand for flowers shoots up. Flowers also grow bigger in winter, hence selling for a good price. In other parts of the year, 100 roses sell for Tk 150-200 while in winter it is as high as Tk 700-800, said Sanjoy Kumar, a farmer of Sadullapur village in Savar, outside the capital. MMA Salam, senior agriculture officer of Savar Upazila, said a cultivation boom happened in Savar in 2001. He said 1,500 people now grew flowers in 250 hectares of land in villages including Jirabo, Ashulia, Pathalia, Nobinagar, Sadhapur, Banktown, and Hemayetpur. Farmers said they cultivated 10-12 species including rose, gladiolus, and marigold. The photos were taken in Sadullapur village last week. Photo: Rashad Ahamad