RAJSHAHI, Jan 15, 2022 (BSS) - Farming of broccoli, a non-conventional
winter vegetable, has gained popularity as many of the grassroots farmers are
getting more income from the vegetable cultivation compared to other
conventional ones in the region, including its vast barind tract.
Acreage of the vegetable is rising gradually by dint of its lucrative
market price and gradually mounting demand.
Like the previous couple of years, the newly harvested vegetable along
with other ones has appeared in the local markets abundantly at present
making both the sellers and buyers happy.
As a whole, the vegetable has brought a diversification in the kitchen
markets besides a new dimension in the local economy, experts' sources said.
Muktar Ali, 46, a farmer of Hatibandha area in Godagari upazila, has
cultivated broccoli on around one bigha of land and he's harvesting his cash
crop for the last couple of days with satisfactory yield and market price.
"I have been selling broccoli at Taka 20 per piece since the beginning of
harvest," said Ali, adding broccoli is more profitable than some other
contemporary vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage.
He has also gained success from his previous year's farming on 10 katha of
land.
"I have around 400 plants on one bigha of land this year," said Hasim
Uddin, 35, another farmer of Imamganj village under the same Upazila, adding
he's expected to make profit from vegetable farming.
Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Sarker told BSS that many of the
farmers are seen showing their interests towards the vegetable farming as its
demand is gradually increasing.
Many farmers are cultivating the seasonal cash crop in the area as they
are getting a better market price of their yield compared to many other
crops.
"I'm heavily satisfied with getting the seasonal vegetables regularly
since the winter season began," said Ambia Ferdousi Khanom, a housewife of
Boaliapara area in Rajshahi city. Currently, she buys broccoli at Taka 30 per
piece.
Azizul Islam, a vender of Shayampur area, has been selling the vegetable
more or less every day for the last three to four weeks. Demand for the
vegetable has increased to a greater extent, he added.
Additional Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Sirajul
Islam said initiative has been taken to expand the farming of the cash crop
among the farmers in general.
He said broccoli is a winter vegetable with high nutritional content. It
is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
It looks like cauliflower but its colour is green and not milky white like
cauliflower. Soil condition and winter weather in the region are favourable
for broccoli cultivation.
Side by side with other conventional winter vegetables, the cash crop is
seen appearing in the local markets everyday bringing diversity in the
vegetable markets both wholesale and retail ones. The non-conventional winter
vegetable has started turning into a conventional one.
He said there is a bright prospect of broccoli farming commercially in the
country's northwest region. Taking advantage of the situation, farmers are
seen showing their interest in cultivating Broccoli as a result of better
output and market price.
Agriculturist Islam added the vegetable could easily be cultivated in the
normal farming field as it is more tolerable to high-temperature than
cauliflower and cabbage. Nutritive value of the crop is more than any other
winter vegetables including cabbage and cauliflower.
Dr Mazharul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute, said broccoli is gradually becoming popular among the
urban people and the Chinese restaurants together with the grand hotels. They
are using broccoli for making soup and other delicious foods.
The farming method was almost similar to the cabbage and cauliflower. At
least 40,000 to 50,000 plants could be produced per hectare in 65-70 days, he
said.