Khulna’s Paikgachha Emerges as National Nursery Hub; Monsoon Sales Expected to Top Tk 100 Crore

Gadaipur Union in Khulna's Paikgachha upazila has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s premier nursery hubs. With the monsoon season driving peak demand, local nursery owners and traders anticipate sapling sales worth over Tk 100 crore this season.

The onset of the monsoon is the ideal time for tree plantation, bringing renewed activity to the upazila’s agricultural sector. From morning to evening the buyers from across the country flock to the area to purchase a vast variety of fruit, timber, medicinal and spice saplings.

Currently, Gadaipur boasts 500 to 600 commercial nurseries, transforming the union into a vibrant green township. An additional 200 nurseries operate across other parts of the upazila. Established in courtyards, alongside roads and on commercial plots, these nurseries produce high-quality saplings of both domestic and foreign plant species.

Nursery owner Kamal Mallick explained that the monsoon is the most lucrative season because rainwater ensures a high survival rate for newly planted saplings. Consequently, individuals, educational institutions and government organizations conduct their most extensive plantation drives during this period.

Dipankar Adhikari, owner of Soumita Nursery, stated that monsoon sales alone hit the Tk 100 crore mark, while annual trade ranges between Tk 150 and Tk 200 crore. Average daily sales combining direct and online orders reach approximately Tk 10 lakh, a figure that surges significantly during the rains.

The nurseries cultivate 40 to 50 species of foreign fruit plants including seedless lemon, Malta, rambutan, dragon fruit, Thai guava and Kerala coconut. Additionally spice plants like cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and black pepper are in high demand, alongside traditional fruit, ornamental, and timber trees such as mango, jackfruit, mahogany and neem. These saplings are distributed to districts nationwide like Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Barisal, with a portion even exported to India.

This booming sector is a vital economic engine for the Khulna region. It has created thousands of jobs, employing agricultural laborers, transport workers and suppliers of soil, fertilizers, and packaging materials. Visitors to the area currently witness a hive of activity, with workers busy weeding, bagging saplings and loading trucks for nationwide delivery.

Local businessmen emphasize that with proper government support, accessible bank loans and improved transportation infrastructure, Paikgachha’s nursery industry could drive a massive transformation in Bangladesh’s broader agricultural economy.