It looks attractive, costs less to grow and is more nutritious than white cauliflower. It can be grown with organic fertiliser alone. Abul Hasim, a farmer in Boro Ajoldi village in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj, has earned a lakh taka growing this coloured cauliflower, and the yellow cauliflower has already drawn a strong response from other farmers.

The coloured cauliflower seeds were brought from India by Jahangir Alam, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Chandipasha block, and Nur-e-Alam, the Pakundia upazila agriculture officer. They gave the seeds to several blocks for trial cultivation. This coloured cauliflower is eaten as a salad in China. It is grown the same way as other cauliflowers; the cost is a little lower but the growing time is the same. It can be grown with organic fertiliser alone, and there is strong demand for it in local markets.

Farmer Abul Hasim said: "This is the first time I have grown coloured cauliflower, on 20 decimals of land beside my house. Using only organic fertiliser, I have made double the profit. Seeing my success, others are becoming interested too. Because the land is beside the road, people come every day to enjoy the look of the cauliflowers. Wholesalers also buy them from the field. The agriculture office helped with everything, including the seed. It cost Tk 20,000 on the 20 decimals, and the crop will sell for Tk 1 lakh 20 thousand."

The farmer's son, Akram Hossain, said: "As farming modernises, young people like us are becoming more interested in agriculture. Seeing the bumper yield of coloured cauliflower on our land, many people are taking advice from us. Because it is a new crop in the area, some people are taking photos and videos with the yellow cauliflowers."

Pakundia upazila agriculture officer Nur-e-Alam said: "Cauliflower has been grown on 200 hectares in the upazila this season, 8 hectares of it coloured cauliflower. Coloured cauliflower looks very attractive and is very popular with consumers. It is well ahead of white cauliflower in nutritional value."

He said: "Ordinary cauliflower is selling at Tk 40-50 in the market, and coloured cauliflower at Tk 70-80. Because of the higher price, it is becoming popular. We hope coloured cauliflower will be grown on 20 hectares in the upazila in future."

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