A new bloom: In a first, Bagerhat welcomes cultivation of cold-weather Lilium flowers
Farmers in Bagerhat are optimistic about the commercial potential of Lilium flowers
For the first time, the exotic and fragrant Lilium flower has been successfully cultivated in Bagerhat, drawing immense interest from flower enthusiasts and the general public.
Every day, people from various corners, including school and college students, visit the picturesque flower field to admire this vibrant addition to the region's agricultural landscape.
The Lilium flower, renowned for its captivating beauty and fragrance, typically thrives in colder climates. Its petals, available in a spectrum of colours — white, yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple — resemble strokes of an artist's brush. This particular variety boasts six wide petals, further enhancing its allure.
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Farmers in Bagerhat are optimistic about the commercial potential of Lilium flowers, aiming to harvest and sell them on upcoming special occasions, including Victory Day on 16 December, New Year celebrations, and International Mother Language Day on 21 February.
They hope the introduction of Lilium will inspire other farmers across the country to venture into its cultivation, with promises of necessary support for interested growers.
To celebrate this milestone, a field day was held this afternoon (11 December) at the land of young entrepreneur Faisal Ahmed in Garfa village of Mollahat Upazila.
The event was presided over by Tipu Sultan, owner of Madhumati Nursery, with Shankar Kumar Majumdar, deputy director of the Bagerhat Agriculture Extension Directorate, as the chief guest. Lal Tir Seeds Ltd Director Tajwar Awal, Upazila Agriculture Officer Animesh Bala, and others also participated in the event.
Entrepreneur Faisal Ahmed said, "With the support of Lal Teer Seed Limited, we began cultivating 200 bulbs imported from the Netherlands on 30 October in Garfa village of Mollahat Upazila. Harvesting began in just 34 days, and we are thrilled with the results."
He said this short-term, high-profit flower cultivation has immense commercial potential.
Faisal plans to scale up cultivation in the future, noting, "Lilium is a very expensive flower with high market demand. Many farmers are already showing interest, and people from all walks of life, including students, are flocking to witness the mesmerising blooms and capture moments with these exotic flowers."
One such visitor, a young woman named Laboni, shared her excitement, "We saw Lilium flowers on YouTube, but seeing them in real life is amazing. It is delightful to photograph and admire these beautiful and expensive flowers. We hope this cultivation spreads further."
Tajwar Awal, director of Lal Teer Seed Limited, highlighted the broader agricultural potential, saying "We are working to improve the production of various crops, including vegetables, by collaborating with international experts. The Lilium flower tubers were imported from the Netherlands and provided to growers. The success of these foreign cultivars, which yield flowers in a short time, shows great promise.
"If production increases, Bangladesh could export these flowers to Middle Eastern countries, earning valuable foreign currency. We are committed to fully supporting farmers in this endeavour."
Shankar Kumar Majumdar, deputy director of the Bagerhat Agricultural Extension Department, emphasised the high demand for Lilium flowers in Bangladesh due to their aesthetic appeal and fragrance.
He expressed optimism about the future of Lilium flower cultivation in the district, anticipating that farmers will receive the necessary training to capitalise on this profitable opportunity.
Lilium is popular all over the world. Even though the main habitat of this flower is in Asia, Europe and North America, it is more common in China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, the Netherlands, India and a few other countries.
