NAOGAON, Oct 30 (UNB): Cauliflower, a staple winter vegetable in Naogaon, is selling at nearly double the price for consumers compared to what local farmers receive, highlighting the price gap that farmers face in the market.
As cauliflower gains popularity in winter kitchens, often paired with potatoes, pumpkin bori, and fish curry, demand rises.
Yet, farmers bringing their cauliflower harvests to the Daktarter Bari intersection market in Sadar upazila earn significantly less than the final retail price.
In the retail market, small cauliflowers are selling at Tk 80 per kilogram (approximately 4 pieces), while farmers only earn Tk 30 for the same amount. Similarly, three medium cauliflowers, averaging one kilogram, fetch Tk 90 in retail, though farmers receive just Tk 40.
Large cauliflowers, weighing around a kilogram for two pieces, are sold to consumers for Tk 100, but only yield Tk 50 for farmers.
Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Director of the Naogaon Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), explained the disparity, noting, "Farmers are typically field-focused and sell quickly to return to their work, often enabling traders to purchase at lower prices. This allows middlemen to profit more significantly."
Azad urged authorities to create a direct market for farmers to sell their produce to consumers, minimising the role of middlemen.
"Ensuring fair prices for farmers would not only benefit them but also offer consumers more affordable options," he added.
This season, approximately 250 hectares in Naogaon have been dedicated to cauliflower cultivation, with an estimated production target of 6,750 metric tonnes, according to the DAE.
