PROSPECTS OF NURSERY BUSINESS IN DHAKA SOUTH CITY CORPORATION (DSCC)

Abstract

The study was conducted in some selected plant nurseries in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to assess the socio-economic characteristics, plants species composition, profitability analysis, problems faced by the nursery owners and prospects in their business. 32 nurseries were selected as the random basis from five zones of DSCC. Most of the nursery owners (78%) were found to operate their nursery business in the road side without any legal approval. A total of 184 plant species of different families were identified from the study area. Among them there was identified 41 species of fruits, 44 species of flower, 66 species of ornamental, 9 species of timber, 10 species of medicinal and 14 species of spices & vegetable plants. Ornamental plants species were the most preferred species or demandable species in DSCC. The nursery owners of DSCC were involved with plants production, distribution (sale), landscaping and gardening, roof top gardening, rental services, sale of nursery equipment like- spray machine, secateurs, irrigation instruments, fertilizer & hormone, garden soil, shade net, seedling tray, seeds, books etc. In this analysis it was observed that the demand for ornamental plants has relatively high than compared to any other species present in the studied area in terms of both sale volume (36%) as well as number of plants (47.22%). Ranking of species according to sale volume it was found that in case of fruits, flower, ornamental, timber, medicinal and vegetable plants found that Piyara, Bougainvillea, Aricha palm, Lambu, Neem and Chili respectively. The sampled nurseries owners yearly averagely sold of 21,25,822 seedlings which average sale value were TK. 20,68,90,016.00. Moreover, the average cost of production of a sapling is amounted Tk. 37.93 per unit and the average selling price is Tk. 120.30 per unit. Benefit cost ratio was calculated as 2.98 of the nursery business in DSCC that is higher than 1. Thus, the present finding revealed that nursery business is a profitable business in the studied area. Permanent nursery market was the main constraint for the nursery owners of DSCC.