Netherlands' Tulip now in Gazipur

Tulip, the national flower of Turkey, and Netherlands also widely cultivates it, is now being cultivated in Bangladesh.

Flower farmer Delwar Hossain of Shreepur upazila in Gazipur is cultivating the eye-catching flower in his garden which he named 'Moumita Flowers'.

With this, he created potentiality of Tulip flower farming across the country.

Delwar earlier gave his endeavour to cultivation of Gerbera, China Rose and different other foreign flowers and became successful in. In 2017, he received Bangabandhu Krishi Padak as successful flower farmer. 

He for the first time started use of modern technology in producing virus-free vegetable plants in the country.

"I started my dream journey with different foreign flowers thinking its (Tulip) huge demand and agriculture economy. I faced various difficulties to do so but did not stop that brought for me one after another success," he said.

Delwar said he brought 1,000 Tulip bulbs from Holland on December and planted these on December. 

After nurturing of 45 days, Tulip flowers started to bloom in the last week of January. Generally it takes 20 to 22 days to bloom, he added.

Tulip farming needs under 11 degree Celsius. There is huge potentiality of the flower gardening in the country's Northern districts because of low temperature there in winter season.

Farzana Nasrin Khan, chief scientific officer (flower) of Horticulture department at Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), echoed with Delwar's words-- Northern districts are suitable places for the flower cultivation.

"Commercially cultivation of the flower has not begun yet but farmers will be inspired by Delwar to cultivate it," she added.

Gazipur Agriculture Extension Department (DAE) deputy director Mahbub Alam said currently Bangladesh has to import Tulip flower at higher costs to meet demand. Flower farmer Delwar made new probability. Extension of the flower farming will contribute to agriculture economy.