Zaheda Begum sells pumpkin flowers in front of Magura Government Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy College. To make a living, she picks flowers from the pumpkin plants in her yard and sells them, earning Tk 500-600. She sells the flowers from time to time. Besides Zaheda Begum, many others in the area also sell pumpkin flowers; they are regarded as casual sellers.
Pumpkin flowers are bright yellow and can be eaten in several ways: fried, boiled or made into fritters with gram flour. They are nutritious, low in calories and fat but high in vitamins and fibre, which aids digestion, boosts immunity and helps keep skin bright. The pumpkin vine bears both male and female flowers, and only the female flowers set fruit, so the male flowers are picked and sold.
Housewives say pumpkin flower fritters are dipped in gram flour batter and fried crisp. The flowers can also be ground to make fritters, or boiled or ground and used in various dishes.
Growing demand
Zaheda Begum said: "Out of need I pick flowers from the pumpkin plants in my yard and sell them. This season I make a decent living from pumpkin flowers and pumpkins. I pick out the male flowers and sit beside the Government College road to sell them. The flowers are fairly easy to produce. At the moment a lot of people are buying pumpkin flowers."
Buyer Alfaz Kazi said: "My children love pumpkin flower chops and fritters. In the village I grew them next to the house. Living in town, I have to buy them from the market or other busy spots. As demand has risen, many farmers are now growing them commercially and doing very well. As far as I know, they are becoming self-reliant by selling pumpkin flowers."
Dr Ananya Shankhari said: "Pumpkin flowers have nutritional value and health benefits. Their vitamin C helps boost immunity. Being high in fibre, they improve digestion and help relieve constipation. Low in calories and fat, they are a healthy food. Eating the flower keeps the skin bright. It is a very effective food for women."
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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