Bihar Agriculture University. Telegraph picture

Bhagalpur, April 12: That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. But for once, residents of eastern Bihar and Kosi districts are proving William Shakespeare wrong. They are keener on purchasing rajnigandha flowers than any other flower.

Keeping the huge demand in mind and the market potential of flowers in eastern Bihar and the Kosi districts in view, the Bhagalpur unit of horticulture department has decided to promote flower cultivation, particularly rajnigandha (tuberose), among farmers based here.

Among all the flowers, the demand for rajnigandha is very high at the local markets because people here are buying these flowers for daily use. “We have to bring rajnigandha from Calcutta and this increases the price of the flower. The flower has a huge demand here but because of its high price, many still avoid purchasing it. If the flower is grown here, it would have a good market,” said Anup Kumar, a flower shop owner in Bhagalpur.

In the Bhagalpur market, one stick of rajnigandha, which consists of six flowers, comes at a price of Rs 60-75.

According to sources, the horticulture department has selected a few farmers for plantation-related demonstration of rajnigandha on lands of selected farmers.

In the first phase, nearly 1.6 lakh roots of the plant would be distributed and each farmer would receive 20,000 roots for plantation on 0.1 hectares. Under the national horticulture mission, the roots are supplied to the district horticulture department. Roots of single variety, which were supplied in Bhagalpur, are said to be the best quality rajnigandha root that too has a huge demand in the market.

The scientists of Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour, clinically examined the roots. They expressed satisfaction over the quality of the root. Sources said the scientists appreciated the move of the district horticulture department adding that in the coming days the university would encourage farmers for rajnigandha cultivation in other parts of eastern Bihar and Kosi districts.

If the cultivations were done in the district, price of one rajnigandha stick would come down to Rs 35-40. Four farmers from Sahu Parbatta, one from Rannuchowk, Kahalgaon and two from Pirpainty have been selected for rajnigandha cultivation in Bhagalpur district in the first phase.

“The farmers would be able to cultivate rajnigandha flowers from July-December this year. The flowers would be available at the local market from July,” said experts.

Satish Chandra Jha, district horticulture officer said that the department, for the first time, has decided to motivate the farmers to produce rajnigandha other than traditional farming. “We hope the farmers would enjoy huge profits from the new venture,” he said.

“Keeping in view the huge demand of tuberose, I have decided to cultivate it on my field. People prefer this flower for different occasions and because of non-availability of this flower at the local market, people depend on the flower market in Bhagalpur,” said Binod, a farmer at Naugachia.