Broccoli farming gains ground in Rajshahi region

FE Team | Published: January 11, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

RAJSHAHI, Jan 10 (BSS): Farming of broccoli, a non-conventional winter vegetable, has been gaining popularity in the region due to its high market value than many other vegetable items.
Many of the farmers are seen showing their interest in cultivating the cash crop for the last couple of years as they get better output along with the market price.
Agricultural extension officials and researchers mentioned that there has been a bright prospect of broccoli farming commercially everywhere in the northwest region of the country and the consumption rate increases gradually.
In this regard, they said the prolonged cold weather being experienced in the region is suitable for cultivation of the non-conventional crop that is commonly known as green cauliflower. Its plant and flower are almost similar to the cauliflower and its green leaves enriched with protein and vitamin C can be consumed directly. But the price of broccoli in the markets is three to four times more than cauliflower.
The unusual vegetable is gradually becoming popular among the urban people and in the recent time, the Chinese restaurants together with the grand hotels are using broccoli for making soup and other delicious foods creating demand for the vegetable.
Agriculturist ATM Rafiqul Islam, deputy manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), here told BSS that the crop was unfamiliar to the farmers and consumers of the rural areas. But the scenario has been changed as the vegetable is seen appearing in both small and big markets frequently.
He said various agricultural extension and research organisations have taken initiatives to make farming of the crop popular at the growers' level. Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has also grown the crop in projection plots aimed at encouraging the farmers towards boosting its production commercially.
Deputy Director of DAE, Rajshahi Hazrat Ali said the vegetable could easily be cultivated in the normal farming field as it is more tolerable to high-temperature than cauliflower and cabbage. Besides, he mentioned that nutritive value of the crop was more than any other winter vegetable including cabbage and cauliflower. It contains antioxidant and anticancer ingredient that can enhance resistance of various diseases.