GOPALGANJ, Jan 23: Floating cabbage farming is gaining popularity among the farmers of Joaria union under Tungipara Upazila in the district as it is proved as a profitable crop in this region.
This hybrid cabbage 'Atlas-70,' developed by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), is a high yielding variety of vegetable containing high amount of protein.
About 80 farmer's family live in Joaria union under Tungipara Upazila of Gopalganj district farming this vegetable in this current season.
Rabin Biswas (40), a farmer of village Mitrodanga under Tungipara Upazila in the district said, he is cultivating cabbage Altas-70 near his residence without chemical fertiliser and pesticides.
Within this time he got a good profit from its produce this season. He said, I think a farmer easily can farm this vegetable on his floating land.
The farmers of Tungipara areas are cultivating the crop commercially now and the maximum producing areas are Joaraia, Mritodanga, Baladanga, Pathrail, Bonnabari, Balargati and Gopalpur.
Some growers said, they are cultivating this vegetable since last three years and if they get any economic support for their floating vegetable cultivation, they farmers in this region will be able to increase their farming and earn large amount of money from the produce.
Md. Jamal Uddin, Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO), Tungipara told The FE floating cabbage cultivation has a bright future because weather condition is favourable for farming this crop. Every year in the winter season farmers get a good profit from its produce within a short time where small investment is needed but the return is big.
According to Tungipara Upazila Agriculture Office, a total of 16 hectors of land have been brought under floating cabbage cultivation under five unions of Tungipara Upazila where production target is 360 tonnes.
The market price of cabbage is Tk 20 to Tk 22 per kg and farmers are trying to bring more land under this vegetable cultivation, UAO, Tungipara said.
