Different Shades of Green

Photos: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

Showing an unusual plant species, 8-year-old Subah Salam desperately asks her mother, “What is the name of this tree?” Her mother Shahrina Salam (35) eagerly introduces the Ulatkambal plant (one kind of medicinal plant) to her daughter, and shows some interesting looking cactus to her as well. 

Tree lovers like Shahrina swarmed the 24th national plant fair titled “Jatiya Brikkho Mela- 2016”, held at the trade fair field, Agargaon, organised by the Forest Department of the government. This year, the theme of the fair is 'Trees for livelihood, trees for life”. 

Like Shahrina, many parents bring their children to the tree fair, and introduce them to the large collection of unknown plants. In fact, it is a haven for the tree and nature aficionados, where they can visit and buy various plants, offered by numerous nurseries of the city. As the fair offers an extensive collection of plants at fairly reasonable price, one can buy his/her desired trees without any hassles.

“Approximately 500 species of local and foreign trees including forests, fruits, flowers, timber, herbal, perennials, shrubs, climbers are being exhibited in this year's fair”, says Marufa Akhter, Deputy Conservator of Forests. “Dedicating the fair to the nature enthusiasts, a total of 88 stalls- - public, private and non-nursery organisations, participate with different plants and products related to plantation”, she adds. 

This year, the sale of trees has surpassed that of any previous years. According to many nursery owners, this year the number of people eagerly buying plants has broken all the previous records. Though in prior times, the demand of forest trees was high, over the years, fruits, flowers and ornamental plants have also become popular to the nature lovers.Due to lack of open space, urban people are now showing more interest in rooftop and balcony gardening, and hence they are buying mostly small plants, bonsais, orchids, money plants and cactuses.

“Along with a number of different foreign and indigenous trees, we have a very rare 'Hijol tree, and you would not find the second piece of it in this fair”, says 40-year-old Md. Harun-Or- Rashid, the owner of the Green Land Nursery. “We have some exclusive bonsais too”, adds Rashid. Green Land Nursery has a reputation of owning exclusive plants and saplings. In fact, this nursery was awarded national awards thrice. 

If you notice the fruits plants, the tiny fruits-bearing seedlings would attract you the most. Apart from the plenty of local fruits, many foreign fruits plants are also available, which are mostly suitable for the rooftop gardens. Besides, there are also plenty of medicinal plants, for example-Shatamuli, Nayantara, Lajjabati, Neem, Patharkuchi, Ulatkambal, Nishindha, Shwarpagandha and much more.

Furthermore, some stalls of the fairs offer different agriculture materials, vases, tubs, colourful stones, seeds, fertilisers, latex and many more agro products. Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) provides information related to plant forest trees. Different organisations are also there to provide daylong practical training on rooftop and balcony gardening.

Appreciating the initiative of the authorities, the visitors demand such plant fair twice a year. They believe that people would have been interested in buying more if the price were cheaper. The authority should organise this kind of fair more often.

“If we get to see interesting range of plants and know how a plant performs once it's planted in the ground, I am sure everyone will enjoy planting more trees and this way, we can help increase greenery of our country”, believes 26-year-old Habibur Rahman, one of the visitors of the fair.

On the other hand, the nursery owners believe, government subsidy in this sector will encourage them more to come up with this kind of initiative. Being a month long fair, it was supposed to end officially yesterday, but given the increasing demand of the visitors, the organisers have decided to continue it till September 3, 2016. 

If you have not visited yet but intend to, make sure to drop by and get yourself and your loved ones a gift that will grow and flourish.