Rajshahi, Feb 10, (V7N) - Who doesn’t love flowers? Many people create small flower gardens at home, and this is where Jafar Iqbal of Paba, Rajshahi, found his path to self-sufficiency. Starting with a modest flower garden at his home, Jafar’s life has blossomed, and now he manages nearly 10-15 bighas of flower cultivation. In addition to his main farm, his rooftop and surrounding areas are also filled with flowers and fruits. Today, his business generates approximately Tk 20 lakh annually from flower sales.

Jafar’s dream is to provide employment to marginalized women, poor widows, and abandoned women in his area. Visitors often come to see the flowers, and some even take them home for free, which makes Jafar happy. He now earns Tk 5,000 every day. Jafar Iqbal, a resident of Harishardain village in Damkura Union, Paba, Rajshahi, is just a Tk 10 ride away from the Mollahpara intersection (Lilly Hall) in Rajshahi city, where his flower garden is located.

Since childhood, Jafar has had a love for flower gardens. After overcoming family struggles, he decided to set up his own flower garden. He started small by planting a few varieties of flowers in his courtyard, which gradually grew into a successful business.

A visit to his farm reveals a vast area filled with colorful, diverse flowers. He has cultivated various flowers on rented land, including Tuberose, Gerbera, roses, marigold, Candula, zinnia, Gypsy, and other valuable varieties. His flower business has transformed his life, and now he sells flowers worth Tk 5,000 daily.

Jafar’s farm sees peak sales during special occasions like Independence Day, Victory Day, Mother Language Day, and Valentine’s Day, sometimes generating over Tk 50,000 in sales on these days. The flower season spans from November to February, but flowers are sold year-round, except during Ramadan.

Speaking about his journey, Jafar says, “I started cultivating flowers commercially on my own land, and today my family is self-sufficient. Initially, I had to source seeds from both domestic and international markets. The cost of cultivating one bigha of roses is approximately Tk 5 lakh, while planting chrysanthemums costs around Tk 60,000 per bigha.”

When asked about support from agricultural offices, Jafar shared that he has never received any help or guidance from them. Now, with Valentine’s Day approaching, Jafar is focusing on taking extra care of his roses. Typically, the price of each rose ranges from Tk 6 to 10, but on Valentine’s Day, the price can increase to Tk 20-50. However, he has no interest in manipulating this market.

Jafar lives a happy life with his wife, Nusrat Jaha Lipi, and their two children. His son is about to sit for the SSC exams at the Laboratory School, and his daughter has just started school.

Jafar’s wife, Lipi, also plays an active role in flower cultivation. The rooftop of their house is filled with plants, and they supply saplings to flower and tree exhibitions across Rajshahi. According to the Paba Agriculture Office, "Flower cultivation has been successful in this region, and we encourage farmers to cultivate flowers by providing them with seeds and other assistance. Sometimes, we also provide them with the necessary equipment."

It is even possible to produce up to Tk 10,000 worth of saplings from just three kathas of land. With minimal land, flower farming can lead to a significant income in a short time.

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