When flowers are money on a rooftop garden
Jannatul Ferdous Juthi in her rooftop garden at her home in Ishwardi municipality area of Pabna — Agamir Somoy
What began as a hobby of gardening on her home’s rooftop has now turned Jannatul Ferdous Juthi, a resident of Ishwardi municipality area in Pabna, into a successful entrepreneur. From home, she sells local and foreign cactus and succulent plants online and offline, earning Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 a month.
During the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, homemaker Juthi began gardening by planting a few saplings in pots on the roof of her home. Over seven years, the hobby has grown into a rich collection. A visit to her rooftop garden behind Ishwardi Municipality is a feast for the eyes, with plants in red, blue, purple, yellow, green and various other colours. The garden contains more than 300 varieties of cactus and succulent plants from Bangladesh and abroad, including Angel Wing, Christmas, Lady Finger, Parodia, Barrel, Moon, Aloe, Ghritakanchan, Zebra Plant, Echeveria, Air Plant, Sansevieria and Patharkuchi.
Jannatul Ferdous Juthi said the idea of gardening came to her while she was confined to her home during the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, she collected a few plants simply to enhance the beauty of her rooftop, but over time both her interest and investment grew. In her words, “Women in this country face various social barriers when trying to become self-reliant. Many do not have the opportunity to go outside and work. This initiative will encourage those who want to do something of their own while staying at home.”
Juthi wants to provide overall guidance and help those interested in taking up gardening with renewed enthusiasm to collect plants.
Her husband, Enamul Haque Babu, has stood by her in her success. He said that as he works at Ishwardi Municipality, he does not have much opportunity to regularly tend the garden. As a result, his wife herself takes primary responsibility for maintaining it. However, Enamul Haque helps her collect rare varieties of plants from different parts of the country. Now that they have started selling plants commercially, he also handles online orders from customers in distant locations and arranges delivery of the plants through courier services.
Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said their officials regularly keep track of the garden and that the agriculture office provides advice whenever necessary.
