Commercial cultivation of purple cauliflower, which is rich in nutritional value, has begun in Joypurhat for the first time. Because it is tastier than ordinary cauliflower or cabbage, demand for it in the market is high, and the good prices have drawn farmers to grow it.

Farmers Amed Ali and Ajeda, a couple from the Bhadsa cluster village (guchchhagram) area of Sadar upazila, have grown purple cauliflower on a trial basis on 15 decimals of land. The purple cauliflower looks like the ordinary kind, but its curd is purple. It is also grown in the same way. Being new, it has caused a stir locally, and farmers come every day to see it.

Because of demand, it sells for Tk 10-15 more than ordinary cauliflower. Growing the 65-day crop, counted from transplanting, on the 15 decimals cost Tk 8,000. The cauliflower first sold for Tk 50 and now sells for Tk 30.

Masud Mia and Anwar Hossain of Bhadsa village and Khokon Ahmmed of Teghar village in Joypurhat Sadar upazila said: "We came to see it after hearing that it is tasty, very nutritious, in demand in the market and fetches a higher price. We will also grow purple cauliflower next year."

The farming couple Amed Ali and Ajeda said: "Because purple cauliflower is new in the market, demand is huge. Customers are buying it at several times the price of ordinary cauliflower. Besides, the profit is several times the cost. So next year we will grow purple cauliflower on more land."

Shahadat Hossain Shahin, agriculture officer at JAKS Foundation in Joypurhat, said purple cauliflower has a high level of antioxidants, which boosts people's immunity. Because it is profitable, its cultivation is growing among farmers.

Joypurhat Sadar upazila agriculture officer, agriculturist Md Kaiser Iqbal, said: "This purple cauliflower is being grown free of poison. Pheromone traps are being used instead of pesticides to control insects. Because purple cauliflower is new, farmers are very enthusiastic, and they are getting good prices. The agriculture department will do more to expand its cultivation."

Purple cauliflower cultivation is being expanded in the district under the overall supervision of the integrated agriculture unit of JAKS Foundation, a local non-governmental development organisation, with financial support from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF).

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