PANCHAGARH, Feb 20: The exotic flower tulip has bloomed for the fifth time in Tentulia Upazila of Panchagarh. This colourful flower garden in the Dorjipara area near the Indian border is spreading fascination.
Visitors from different districts are flocking to the garden every day. Along with enjoying the beauty of the tulips, local farmers are also benefiting financially. It is like a piece of the Netherlands.
This year, tulips of different colours have been cultivated in the garden, which is already attracting tourists from different parts of the country. This initiative will further strengthen the potential of eco-tourism in the Tentulia region and play an important role in increasing the economic capacity of women entrepreneurs, the entrepreneurs believe.
This time too, the Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO), a non-governmental development organisation, has taken the initiative to cultivate this flower from a cold-weather country. A farm-based tulip garden has been established on 60 acres of land by 10 women entrepreneurs. The entire garden is decorated with about 14,000 flowers. Special sheds have been installed to control sunlight and temperature. An aesthetic entrance has been made outside with colourful flags.
Tulips of five colours, including Labella (red), Denmark Strong Gold, and Mystic Van Eyck (pink), are blooming throughout the garden. Visitors are entering the garden after paying a ticket of Tk 50 per person. Some are touching the flowers, some are taking pictures, and some are capturing colourful moments in selfies. The entire area is filled with the noise of children and the excitement of tourists.
For the past four years, farmers in the Darjipara area have been benefiting financially by cultivating tulips. This initiative by women entrepreneurs is having a positive impact on the local economy. According to ESDO, the main goal of the project is to make small farmers self-reliant, increase family income, reduce tulip imports from abroad, and develop Panchagarh as a tourism-friendly district. In addition, the potential for eco-community tourism is also being strengthened.
n 2022, as a pilot project, eight women entrepreneurs started cultivating 40,000 tulips of six species on 40 per cent of the land in Sharialjot and Dorjipara villages. In continuation of that success, the scope of cultivation has been expanded this time too.
Tulips are usually found in cold countries. The ideal temperature for cultivation is 15 degrees Celsius during the day and 10 degrees Celsius at night. Buds appear within 18 to 20 days of planting and the flower can last for 25 to 60 days. However, the yield may change due to weather variations.
Farmer Rabiul Islam, the husband of an entrepreneur, said, "It costs us about Tk 80 to bring a tulip bulb from the Netherlands here. We have to import new bulbs every year. We earn money by selling tickets to visitors and selling flower sticks. Flowers are also being sent to Dhaka."
He said that each stick is sold for Tk 100. Ten farmers are involved in this cultivation. ESDO has trained them - how to plant, how to care for it - the trainers have taught everything.
Ikhtiyar Hosen, a retired teacher from Dinajpur, said, "I had heard that tulips are very beautiful. I was really impressed when I came and saw them today. It is like a piece of the Netherlands."
Student Sharmin Akter said, "I have seen it on TV and mobile, but I have never seen it in person. It looks exactly like a picture."
The tulip garden was opened to the public on Friday afternoon. The event was inaugurated by ESDO Director (Administration) Selima Akhtar. ESDO Founder and Executive Director Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman and the organisation's Youth Engagement and ICT Team Leader Shaswat Zaman were present at the event.
On Tuesday afternoon, Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman, founder and executive director of the ESDO, said, "Five years ago, I started cultivating tulips with marginalised women. Now it is one of the main attractions for tourists in Tentulia. It is having a positive impact on the income and employment of small entrepreneurs. Based on this experience, an initiative has been taken to develop eco-community tourism here. Every year, numerous domestic and foreign visitors and tourists come to see this garden."
