Cultivation of coloured cauliflower brings smiles to farmers in Khulna

Farmers in DumuriaUpazila of Khulna district are passing a busy time marketing cauliflower as bumper production of yellow-flowered cauliflower has brought happiness to them this season.

According to local farmers, favourable weather, timely sowing of seeds and balanced use of fertiliser have resulted in a good yield of cauliflower, particularly the yellow variety.

Low production cost and higher profit margins have made cauliflower cultivation increasingly popular in the area.

The locally produced yellow cauliflower is meeting local demand and is also being supplied to different districts across the country. 

Farmers said they are getting good market prices, which has further boosted their confidence.

Data from the Department of Agricultural Extension show that despite various weather challenges this season, an ideal farmer of Khaniya area, Abu Hanif Morol, earned around Tk1 lakh in profit by cultivating yellow cauliflower on 33 decimals of land.
 
Besides, he is also engaged in cultivating a variety of winter vegetables.

The agriculture department said yellow cauliflower has been cultivated on about one hectare of land in Dumuria this season. 

Thanks to favourable conditions and proper management, bumper yields have been achieved.

Farmers of the upazila said that profit from winter vegetables, especially yellow cauliflower, has encouraged more growers to engage in such cultivation, even amid natural adversities this year.

DumuriaUpazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist MdNazmul Huda said about 280 hectares of land have been brought under cauliflower cultivation in Dumuria this season, which is significantly higher than last year. 

"Compared to previous years, cauliflower production is much higher this time, and the good yield of yellow cauliflower has put smiles on farmers' faces," he added.

Farmer Abu Hanif Morol said coloured cauliflower -- especially yellow or orange varieties have emerged as a new and profitable trend in Bangladesh's agriculture. 

He noted that the variety, often known as "Carotina Yellow," contains higher beta-carotene than traditional white cauliflower and enjoys stronger market demand, enabling farmers to earn better returns within a short cultivation period.

Besides, farmers of Magurghona Union of DumuriaUpazila have successfully cultivated coloured cauliflower. Purple, yellow, and broccoli variety cauliflowers have been cultivated in different areas in Khulna.

Shahdat Hossain and Babita Sarkar, farmers of Magurghona union of Dumuriaupazila said, "We have experimentally cultivated coloured cauliflower on 20 bighas of land for the second time."

The price of white cauliflower is Tk20 to Tk25 per kilogram (KG) whereas we can sell the coloured cauliflower at Tk60 to Tk70 per KG. I am very happy with the profit. I will extend the farming land area for the cultivation of the coloured cauliflower in next season, they said.

Besides, we got cauliflower seeds, chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, organic herbicides and pesticides free of cost from the government, he added.

MdRafiqul Islam, Additional Director of Khulna Agriculture Zone told BSS today that we wanted to justify how suitable the soil and weather exists for the coloured cauliflower farming with a view to make the land suitable for coloured cauliflower farming in future.

"We have provided cauliflower seeds, chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, organic herbicides, pesticides, and necessary advice to the farmers, he said, adding that after getting the good cauliflower seeds and fertilizer, the farmers achieved success. The farmers have got better profit.

As a result, local vegetable farmers have become interested in cultivation of coloured cauliflower. The local agriculture department is also very pleased for the success of farming coloured cauliflower, he said.

In the next season, if any farmer wants to cultivate coloured cauliflower, all kinds of support and cooperation will be provided by the Agriculture Department, he said.

Besides, we always provide technical support to the farmers to make the coloured cauliflower farming more profitable, he added.