Many farmers in Dinajpur have achieved success in cultivating colourful cauliflower and cabbage this winter.
These colourful cauliflower and cabbage are adorning the crop fields of various villages in several upazilas.
Farmer Abdul Barek from the Tonggua area of Khansama upazila of the district has benefited from cultivating colourful cauliflower and cabbage from his land for the first time.
Pink and light red spring cabbage is adorning the land of farmer Abdul Barek which has not only increased the visual beauty but also brought a huge response in the markets.
The Department of Agricultural Extension and various private organizations are cultivating colourful cauliflower and cabbage in vast fields in several upazilas of the district.
Biofertilizers, pesticides, pheromone traps and yellow taps are being used to control insects in the vegetable field.
"The yield has been quite good due to the care and techniques of the farmers," said the DAE office.
Farmers are getting good prices due to the huge demand for these vegetables in the market.
Recently, Rafiqul Islam, assistant director of research on Robi Crops at the Dinajpur regional DAE office, said farmers can make up for the losses incurred by cultivating other vegetables in the current season.
Wholesalers are bringing cauliflower from the crop fields and colorful cauliflower is being sold at Tk30-Tk40 per piece in the local market.
Farmers are happy with the success of colourful cauliflower and cabbage cultivation.
Colourful cauliflower farmers of Nijpara, Bhognagar and Sator unions under Birganj upazila said that although white cabbage is sold at Tk5-Tk6 per piece and colourful cabbage is still being sold at Tk30-40 per piece in the market.
Upazila DAE offices have supported the farmers by providing organic fertilizers, pesticides and advice required for cauliflower and cabbage cultivation.
Khansama Upazila Agriculture Officer Yasmin Akhter said farmers have got the expected yield and market price from cultivating these colourful cauliflowers and cabbages.
The nutritional value of colourful cauliflowers is much higher than white cauliflowers and it contains high levels of antioxidants, which are very beneficial for health.
Due to its high demand in the market, many farmers show their interest in cultivating colourful cauliflower in the next year, she said.
Rashedul Islam, a farmer from Mohabbatpur village under Auliapur union in Dinajpur Sadar upazila, said he cultivated colourful cauliflower on one and a half bighas of land after getting free seeds from the Women's Multipurpose Education Center-MBSK.
"I have cultivated this cauliflower using only organic pesticides and pheromone traps. Due to the huge demand in the market, wholesalers are buying cauliflowers from my vegetable fields," he said.
DAE Deputy Director Md Nuruzzaman said colourful cauliflowers and cabbages have been cultivated in the district for the last two years under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Project.
Many farmers have found success in cultivating the vegetables.
Due to good demand in the market, the cultivation of this colourful variety of cauliflower will increase commercially in the future, he added.
Other farmers are also showing interest in cultivating this variety of colourful cauliflower.
Colourful cauliflower is a vegetable with medicinal properties. It also tastes good.
Compared to ordinary cauliflower, colourful cauliflower contains more than 25% carotene and various types of vitamins including vitamins A, C and K. In addition, it also contains a lot of beta-carotene which acts as an antioxidant.
Abu Reza Md Asaduzzaman, director of the Sustainable Agriculture Development Project in the Dinajpur region, said with the help of the project, various high-value vegetables such as squash, capsicum, colourful cauliflower, colourful cabbage and broccoli have been provided for the demonstration farmers.
This project has been taken up to provide safe, high-quality vegetables to consumers.
In this regard, the DAE and some development organizations are working at the field level to provide cooperation and advice to the farmers, he said.
This cabbage is not only attractive to look at but also rich in nutrients.
Due to the presence of xanthophyll, carotenoids and vitamin A.
It increases immunity, improves eyesight and reduces the risk of cancer.
According to the DAE, this time cabbage has been cultivated on 2,122 hectares of land in the district and cauliflower has been cultivated on 2,450 hectares of land.
