Yellow and purple cauliflower is raising hopes in Gurudaspur, Natore. Hoping for bigger profits and to meet nutritional needs, Md Abdul Alim of Bilkathor village grew coloured cauliflower on a trial basis for the first time and succeeded. Planting 2,200 seedlings on just 17 decimals of land, he produced a crop worth about Tk 1 lakh 50,000, surprising those around him.

From planting to harvest, the total cost, including care and organic fertiliser, was Tk 6,000. He harvested the crop within 60 to 65 days of planting and sold it at market, making a profit after costs of about Tk 1 lakh 50,000. Seeing Abdul Alim's success on his first attempt, other farmers are being encouraged to grow the cauliflower.

Alim's coloured cauliflower has caused a stir in the local market too. It sells at a higher price than white cauliflower, and many people buy it out of curiosity. Vegetable sellers and wholesalers alike are looking for it, so other farmers are now dreaming colourful dreams about growing it.

The agriculture department says farmers in the area are becoming interested in coloured cauliflower because of good yields and prices. The local agriculture department is very pleased with its success and will work to spread the crop across the district.

Farmer Md Abdul Alim said he was a little worried about growing this cauliflower at first, as he knew nothing about the crop. He took the courage to plant the seedlings on the advice of the Gurudaspur agriculture department. He grew it without any chemical fertiliser or pesticide, using organic fertiliser and organic pest control. The cost was the same as for white cauliflower, but the crop needed comparatively more organic fertiliser.

He said his field had purple and yellow cauliflower. At first it sold for Tk 80 to Tk 100 a kg, and later at an average of Tk 60 a kg. Each purple cauliflower weighs 2 to 2.5 kg and each yellow one about 3 kg. There is strong demand in the market, and people are keen to buy even though the price is higher.

He said many people have shown interest in growing the cauliflower after seeing his success, and there has been a big response in the area. He plans to grow it on a larger scale next time and will encourage others as well.

Local people said this is the first time they have seen this kind of cauliflower grown. It tastes a little different from white cauliflower, looks beautiful and tastes very good. Many have posted photos of the yellow and purple cauliflower on social media.

Jalal Sardar and Aiyub Ali, vegetable sellers at Kachhikata bazaar, said: "White cauliflower is selling at Tk 20 to Tk 25 a kg in the market. But coloured cauliflower sells at an average of Tk 60 a kg."

Md Harunar Rashid, Gurudaspur upazila agriculture officer, said that because organic fertiliser is used for coloured cauliflower, much less chemical fertiliser is needed. Coloured cauliflower is more nutritious than ordinary cauliflower, and because of its nutrition and different colour it is in high demand in the local market, so farmers get a somewhat better price. The agriculture department will give farmers every kind of help to expand it, he said.

Abdul Wadud, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Natore, said this is the first coloured cauliflower grown in the district. Farmer Abdul Alim of Gurudaspur succeeded on his first try through his own efforts and the agriculture department's advice.

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