Henna shows the colour of Life || SHYKH SERAJ
During the end of the holy month of Ramadan, I went to Savar’s Shamlashi Bhakurda Union to see mehendi (henna) cultivation.
Henna is a traditional plant and is very popular for ages, especially in the sub-continent. Women like to wear it like anything.
Let’s talk about the cultivation spot now. Farmers in Savar, where I’ve been to see the henna cultivation, are really smart. Savar, as you know, is very close to Dhaka and the henna farmers are here are giving quick and huge supply to Dhaka. So, these farmers are always updated about the demand. Henna is heavily used in bridal makeover, many Muslims also wear it on beards and ladies also wear henna on their hair and make beautiful designs on their hands.
Moreover, henna is a great medicinal plant which can cure cancer, jaundice, arthritis, stomach troubles, skin diseases etc.
In Savar, farmers used to do sugarcane before, but as henna has great demand and gives farmers good profit, they are keener towards it. For this, in recent times, henna cultivation is extending fast in Savar.
“How much for one bundle?” I asked a farmer.
“I sell each for 5 taka”.
Naturally, the wholesalers make it a bit more.
“What crops you prefer to cultivate?” I asked another farmer.
“Vegetables…mehendi”, he replied.
“Which is more profitable to you, vegetables or mehendi?” I asked again.
“Certainly, mehendi,” he boldly said.
The season of cultivating henna is during March to April. Still, it has more or less demand throughout the entire year. Henna is best to be cultivated in sandy-loam soil.
Henna plants grow fast if urea, compost fertiliser and sufficient water are used. In the first year of sowing, henna grows to 2-3 feet, second year they grow to 4-5 feet and during the third year they grow to 6-7 feet. Once the plants grow to a sufficient state, in every 2-3 months henna can be cut.
“What did you cultivate on these lands earlier?” I asked another farmer.
“Sugarcane but now we don’t do it anymore. Sugarcanes take a lot of time to grow,” he replied.
“Is henna profitable for you?” I asked again.
“Of course, money is good, less trouble. That’s is why I shifted,” the farmer replied.
Henna is sold in every small vegetable market in the capital. It is also sold in the big markets like Krishi Market, Rayerbazar and others.
Henna leaves are coming to the city mainly from a few villages in Savar and Keraniganj upazila’s Purbo Akchail, Salmachi, Kolatiya, and Maniknagar. In these villages, like the cultivation of other crops, henna is cultivated in many areas and expanding every day.
The extension of natural henna cultivation is very positive and hopeful. Gradually, many farmers are getting involved in henna cultivation. Commercially, they have made its production profitable as well. Due to the marketing of artificial and imported henna, we’re spoiling our own opportunities. We need to move onward with it and explore many other new promises and prospects in henna and how better we can support the farmers for this. Dear readers, belated Eid greetings to you all.
Henna is a traditional plant and is very popular for ages, especially in the sub-continent. Women like to wear it like anything.
Let’s talk about the cultivation spot now. Farmers in Savar, where I’ve been to see the henna cultivation, are really smart. Savar, as you know, is very close to Dhaka and the henna farmers are here are giving quick and huge supply to Dhaka. So, these farmers are always updated about the demand. Henna is heavily used in bridal makeover, many Muslims also wear it on beards and ladies also wear henna on their hair and make beautiful designs on their hands.
Moreover, henna is a great medicinal plant which can cure cancer, jaundice, arthritis, stomach troubles, skin diseases etc.
In Savar, farmers used to do sugarcane before, but as henna has great demand and gives farmers good profit, they are keener towards it. For this, in recent times, henna cultivation is extending fast in Savar.
“How much for one bundle?” I asked a farmer.
“I sell each for 5 taka”.
Naturally, the wholesalers make it a bit more.
“What crops you prefer to cultivate?” I asked another farmer.
“Vegetables…mehendi”, he replied.
“Which is more profitable to you, vegetables or mehendi?” I asked again.
“Certainly, mehendi,” he boldly said.
The season of cultivating henna is during March to April. Still, it has more or less demand throughout the entire year. Henna is best to be cultivated in sandy-loam soil.
Henna plants grow fast if urea, compost fertiliser and sufficient water are used. In the first year of sowing, henna grows to 2-3 feet, second year they grow to 4-5 feet and during the third year they grow to 6-7 feet. Once the plants grow to a sufficient state, in every 2-3 months henna can be cut.
“What did you cultivate on these lands earlier?” I asked another farmer.
“Sugarcane but now we don’t do it anymore. Sugarcanes take a lot of time to grow,” he replied.
“Is henna profitable for you?” I asked again.
“Of course, money is good, less trouble. That’s is why I shifted,” the farmer replied.
Henna is sold in every small vegetable market in the capital. It is also sold in the big markets like Krishi Market, Rayerbazar and others.
Henna leaves are coming to the city mainly from a few villages in Savar and Keraniganj upazila’s Purbo Akchail, Salmachi, Kolatiya, and Maniknagar. In these villages, like the cultivation of other crops, henna is cultivated in many areas and expanding every day.
The extension of natural henna cultivation is very positive and hopeful. Gradually, many farmers are getting involved in henna cultivation. Commercially, they have made its production profitable as well. Due to the marketing of artificial and imported henna, we’re spoiling our own opportunities. We need to move onward with it and explore many other new promises and prospects in henna and how better we can support the farmers for this. Dear readers, belated Eid greetings to you all.
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