College teacher Md Lokman Hossain has succeeded in growing broccoli in Mirsharai, Chattogram. He has been growing the vegetable for 14 years, and there is demand for it in the market as a green vegetable. Alongside teaching, he grows various vegetables all year round and spends his free time in the fields.

Lokman Hossain is a professor in the botany department of Nizampur Government College in Mirsharai. He is the son of Md Shamsuddin of East Khaiyachhara village in Khaiyachhara union of the upazila. He is an inspiration to others in the area, and many have turned to farming after seeing him.

Alongside teaching, Lokman Hossain has been farming for about 30 years. He grows rice in different seasons and all kinds of vegetables year round. In season, 6-12 labourers work on his land, and two are employed all year. His produce goes to local markets, Chattogram city and elsewhere.

In East Khaiyachhara, he goes home and then to his land as soon as college is over, tending the broccoli field. Several labourers were harvesting broccoli for market. This season he has grown broccoli on 24 decimals, and vegetables including tomatoes, beans, bottle gourd, pumpkin, cabbage, aubergine and yardlong beans on about 3 acres.

"This time I have grown it on 24 decimals," Lokman Hossain said. "Each head of broccoli is ready for sale at 500 grams to 1 kg. Earlier I grew another variety that reached up to 4 kg. The 24 decimals cost about Tk 30,000-32,000, and the yield is good. I hope to sell Tk 2 lakh worth. Each head sells for Tk 25-35."

He said: "Water is a problem in the dry season. With better water supply, I could grow vegetables on more land. I am in the fields before going to college and after college, and while I am at college I talk to the labourers about various matters. I take the vegetables to local markets and to wholesale depots in Chattogram city, where demand is higher than here."

Mirsharai upazila agriculture officer Protap Chandra Roy said: "Lokman Hossain has been growing this vegetable for many years. This time we have given demonstrations to a few more people. Broccoli is very nutritious and can also be eaten boiled. Food habits need to change. Cultivation of this vegetable will gradually increase."

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