Kabir Mia and Abdur Rahim are two farmers from Atkapara village in Kalikaprasad union of Bhairab upazila, Kishoreganj. After seeing colour cauliflower and broccoli grown on a neighbour's land, they became keen to grow them on their own.

With help from the upazila agriculture office, Kabir Mia grew colour cauliflower on 10 decimals of land, while Abdur Rahim, with his son Borhan, grew the Crown variety of broccoli on 8 decimals. Seeing the high yields and good market prices on their land, other farmers in the area have also become interested.

According to the upazila agriculture office, broccoli and colour cauliflower were grown on 45 decimals in Kalikaprasad and other unions of Bhairab under the Mymensingh region agricultural development project. The crop was ready for sale within two months, and farmers have already begun harvesting and selling it. Broccoli and colour cauliflower gave high yields in a short time at low cost.

Kabir Mia of Atkapara said: "Last year my cousin in the village grew colour cauliflower and made a good profit. Seeing it on his land, I got interested and this year planted 1,900 colour cauliflower seedlings on 10 decimals. The yield has been good and the market price is good. Each colour cauliflower is selling at Tk 40-45 wholesale. I hope to make a profit."

Farmer Abdur Rahim Mia told Jagonews: "We grew broccoli on our land with help from the upazila agriculture office. As it gives a high yield in a short time at low cost, I hope for a good profit."

Bhairab Upazila Agriculture Officer Aklima Begum said: "Colour cauliflower and broccoli are more nutritious. As market prices are good, farmers in the upazila have become interested in growing them. With the agriculture office's help, colour cauliflower and broccoli were grown on 45 decimals this year. We hope farmers in all seven unions of the upazila will grow them in future."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.