JOYPURHAT, Oct 16: Early winter cauliflower cultivation is gaining popularity across the district due to high market prices.
More than 12,000 farmers of Akkelpur, Kalai, Khetlal, Panchbibi and Sadar upazilas of the district are now passing busy time tending vegetable field.
According to the district Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office source, some 500 hectares of land were fixed for the production of early winter cauliflower farming but the cultivators have exceeded the target.
Sub-assistant agriculture officer Azizur Rahman said Joypurhat is well-known for growing varieties of vegetable.
Vegetable production is playing an important role in the economy in the area, he added.
In a recent visit to some areas of the district this correspondent found some farmers were harvesting their produce and some were taking care of their cauliflower field.
"I planted 5,000 saplings of cauliflower on two bighas of land in mid-August spending around Tk 20, 000," said farmer Jalal Uddin of Panchbibi upazila.
"I am expecting to make profit over Tk 0.2 million this season", he added.
Each cauliflower is being sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40 in the retail market while Tk 25 to Tk 30 in the wholesale market.
Traders generally purchase the item from the farmers directly.
DAE Deputy Director Sudhindranath Roy said early vegetable farming is profitable for high prices and market demand.
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