The colourful cauliflowers are as attractive to look at as their names are grand: the purple one is called "Valentina" and the yellow one "Carotina". These varieties are in demand in the market and fetch double the price. Because of the good prices, farmers in Shariatpur have taken to Valentina and Carotina, and the area grown is rising within a year.

According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), coloured cauliflower was grown on a trial basis alongside white cauliflower on 1 hectare in Zajira upazila of Shariatpur last financial year. After that success, local farmers grew the two varieties commercially on 1.5 hectares in Zajira and Sadar upazilas this financial year.

Ordinary cauliflower needs three months from planting to be ready for sale, while coloured cauliflower is ready 10 days earlier. It also grows larger. Because it is more nutritious and fetches good prices, it is becoming more popular among other farmers in the district day by day.

Md Shahin Alam is a farmer at Char Khoratala in Zajira upazila. Last year he grew yellow and purple cauliflower on a trial basis alongside white cauliflower on 10 decimals. It cost him Tk 6,000 and he sold the crop for Tk 40,000. After getting good prices, this year he has expanded to 40 decimals of coloured cauliflower, and as last year he has made a profit.

He said: "Last year we grew coloured cauliflower for the first time. Even after covering production costs we got a much better price. These cauliflowers are in great demand in the market and sell at more than Tk 80 a kg. Following our example, many in the area have grown coloured cauliflower this year."

Delwar Khan, a farmer of Goyghar in Shoulpara union of Sadar upazila, has grown coloured cauliflower for the first time this year. He said: "Last year I saw this cauliflower when I visited Zajira and decided then to grow it the next year. So this year I got seed from Dhaka and planted it on 10 decimals. The yield has been very good. The cost of growing white and coloured cauliflower is the same, but at market the coloured one fetches double. I am making a good profit and intend to grow it on 40 decimals next time."

Babul Khalifa, another farmer in the same area, has also grown coloured cauliflower. He said: "For the past few years I have grown white cauliflower. This year I grew some coloured cauliflower. They have grown bigger than the white ones and I am getting a much better price. Traders place orders in advance."

Krishibid Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, additional deputy director of the district DAE, told Jago News that Valentina and Carotina cauliflowers are very tasty, and are in greater demand and fetch higher prices. Because they yield better than white cauliflower, farmers are profiting. Cultivation will grow further, and farmers will be helped to grow coloured cauliflower through various projects, he said.

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