KHULNA, July 30, 2024 (BSS) - A tree fair and tree plantation campaign in Khulna division is gaining momentum at Khulna Circuit House Ground in the city.
 
A large number of tree lovers thronged the tree fair on Monday with the nursery owners turning the fair ground into a fiesta of different local and foreign varieties.
 
The 15-day tree fair started on July 16 and has been extended for another 7-day though it was supposed to end on July 30. Due to the huge rush, the fair has been extended till August 7.
 
The tree fair has been designed with 60 stalls and among the stalls, a total of 30 tree sapling stalls and the other 30 stalls are for handicraft, book and fast-food shops.
 
Khulna district administration and Sundarban West Forest Department jointly organized the fair.
 
A total of 18,812 different species of seedlings worth about Taka 22, 70,400 have been sold till Monday, source said.
 
This year various rare kinds of tree saplings are being found which attracts the city dwellers.
 
A rare kind of tree sapling tilted 'mohashomudro' is being sold at a cost of Taka 500, 'Ghugu Pakhi', another rare kind of tree sapling which is being sold at a cost of Taka 300.
 
A rare kind of tree sapling has drawn the attention of the tree lovers namely 'Star Jui'. The price of the tree is Tk 15,000. Most of all, mango seedlings are being sold. Housewives prefer tubs of fruit and flower plants.
 
The urban planters and gardeners are showing interest in short varieties of plants, especially early fruiting saplings. The stalls in the fair have been decorated with fruit, flower and orchid plants, adding a splash of nature to a concrete environment of the city.
 
The price of each plant bearing fruits throughout the year is Taka 600 to 800," Abu Masud, owner of Dalia Nursery said, adding that he bought different kinds of fruit plants mainly targeting the urban gardeners.
 
He is also displaying moringa plants of different sizes and ages at his stall. He brought the seeds of a moringa plant from India and used those to make saplings.
 
Selina Akter, a housewife of City's Customs Ghat area, told BSS, "I have bought a mango plant, 'Japanese cherry' flower plant and two rose flower plants. Every year, I bought fruit and flower plants for my rooftop garden.
 
Juthi Akter, a housewife of City's new market area, said, "I have bought a red rose plant, and three 'lojjaboti' saplings from the nursery.
 
The district administration sources said that the law enforcing agencies have taken adequate measures to ensure security for the traders, visitors and buyers.