He finished his studies but found no work. Lack of money ended his hopes of higher education, and an attempt to go abroad failed too. For a living he worked as a mason and a farm labourer. But instead of giving in to despair, Sohanur Rahman, a young entrepreneur from Umarnagar village in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur, began growing tuberose on just 15 decimals of land, and now hopes to stand on his own feet.
After passing his HSC in 2023, Sohan could not continue his studies. Because of his family’s financial troubles he tried many ways to find work, without success. On the advice of an older friend he turned to farming. He leased 15 decimals of land for only Tk 5,000 and began growing tuberose. With bulbs bought from Godkhali in Jashore, and the cost of preparing the land, fencing, fertiliser and pesticide, his initial investment came to about Tk 50,000.
That effort is now paying off. So far he has sold about Tk 2 lakh worth of tuberose from his plot. Each stick currently sells for Tk 10 to 12. His flowers go to Boalmari, Alfadanga, Madhukhali and other parts of Faridpur, and he also supplies Magura and Jashore.
Describing his struggle, Sohanur Rahman said that unemployment and want had once made life very hard for him. Finding no work after his studies, he had fallen into despair. Later, while working for others, he decided to start something of his own and began growing tuberose.
He said that although he had doubts about success at first, he has so far sold about Tk 2 lakh worth of flowers, and the result has made him hopeful. He wants to expand the plot and create jobs for other unemployed young people in the area. With government or private support, he plans to grow flowers on a larger scale.
Boalmari upazila agriculture officer Alvir Rahman said flower farming is a promising venture and there is demand for tuberose in the market. Growers who use modern methods, tend the crop properly and follow the agriculture department’s advice can profit from it, he said, adding that interested young entrepreneurs would be given the advice and help they need.
Started with little capital on a small plot, Sohan’s venture now points to new possibilities. Besides changing his own fortunes, he hopes to create work for other unemployed young people. His small tuberose garden has become an example of what self-reliance can achieve.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report