FLOWER INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH: EXPLORING FLORICULTURE POTENTIAL

Floriculture is an international, multibillion-dollar industry that includes the production of bedding and garden plants, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, cut flowers, cut cultivated greens and floriculture materials. Flower cultivation has been found as a profitable business which assures higher potential to earn money compared to other crops. National GDP is largely influenced by flower sector. This paper briefs out the existing marketing conditions and practices of the flower growers and traders and even tries to find out the potentiality of developmental intervention. Demand for flowers specially for cut flowers is increasing in the inland as well as international market. Though Bangladesh has been exporting cut flowers like tuberose and gladiolus, market demand for high value cut flowers is growing worldwide. Bangladesh have the possibility to earn foreign currency as other countries but key problems such as minimized infrastructural facility, poor packaging, lack of technical knowhow in production and marketing, inefficient management system and so on are the main culprits. In addition, there is high value cut flowers like Nandini, which have significant prospect in our country. This article states clear focus on flower business and floriculture, scope and limitations. It is suggested that initiative should be taken for exploring the potential floriculture business to return the income. So, to explore the potential floriculture in Bangladesh, limitations are identified and specific recommendations are suggested.