Commercial production of Tulips begins in Bangladesh

Tulip, world’s one of the prettiest spring-blooming flowers known for its dazzling beauty, is now being cultivated commercially in Gazipur.

The national flower of Turkey and the Netherlands, grows from bulbs and usually grows in colder countries as its bulb requires cold weather to thrive, reports news agency UNB.

The flower comes in many colours like orange, pink, cherry, magenta, salmon, crimson, purple, apricot, lilac, mauve, blue, yellow, apricot, violet, terracotta, red, scarlet, chocolate and brown along with many shades.

Delwar Hossain, 50, a farmer of Kewa village in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, is cultivating the attractive flower in his garden which he named 'Moumita'.

After his success in cultivating gerbera, China rose and different other foreign species of flowers over the past 10-12 years, Delwar has cultivated tulip this time, which has created new potentials in the flower business, according to officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

As the news of his tulip cultivation spread around, flower lovers and entrepreneurs from different areas are thronging his garden every day, said a caretaker of the garden.

Talking to UNB, Delwar said he brought 1,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands and planted those in his garden six months back on an experiment basis. Though it is a flower of cold countries, there is also demand for this flower in Bangladesh.

“If anyone wants to cultivate this flower, I’ll provide all sorts of assistance, including the supply of tulip bulbs,” he said.

Mahbubur Rahman, deputy director at the DAE Gazipur office, said it is heard that many flower lovers grow tulip in tubs but for the first time, Delwar has cultivated it commercially.

“We’re ready to provide all types of assistance to him. There’ll be huge commercial and economic potential if the flower is cultivated in this country,” he said.

Per 100 pieces of Tulip brought from abroad are sold here for Tk 700-800, Delwar said, adding that one could make a profit by selling per 100 pieces for Tk 400-500 if the flower is cultivated in the country.

Delwar who gained success in cultivating gerbera, tuberose and China rose earlier received the "Bangabandhu Krishi Medal" as a successful flower farmer in 2017.

Along with creating employment for 30 people in his garden, he is earning Tk 4 million every year, the entrepreneur said.

He said there is a huge demand for tulip across the globe.

The local demand is currently being met importing flowers from Netherlands, China, India and other countries, Delwar said, adding that initiatives could be taken to cultivate the flower in northern districts considering low temperature there in the winter season.