The farming of broccoli is gaining popularity among farmers in Manirampur upazila of Jashore district as they found it more profitable than conventional vegetables.

Farmers are showing more interest in the broccoli cultivation due the high demand of the green vegetable as well as good price. Besides, it is less susceptible to pest attacks.

The winter vegetable not only tastes delicious but also has many health benefits.

According to nutritionists, broccoli is useful for fighting cancer, diabetics, heart disease, high blood pressure and reducing the cholesterol level in a human body.

Farmers of Rohita, Mashimnagar, Jhapa and Chaluahati unions in the upazila have brought their land under the broccoli cultivation and they are earning a good profit.

Talking to this correspondent, they said they spent Tk 15,000 to cultivate broccoli on one bigha of land and they are earning a profit of Tk 35,000 from each bigha.

The demand of this winter vegetable is higher than other vegetables and it is being supplied to Dhaka, Chattogram and other northern parts of the country, they said.

The broccoli was first cultivated at Palashi village in the upazila in 2016 as a private organisation named ‘Safal’ took the initiative to produce the vegetable.

First, Pradip, a resident of the village, brought his land under the broccoli cultivation with the assistance of ‘Safal’ and achieved success.

Being encouraged by Pradip’s success, many more farmers, including Ratan Biswas, Srinibash, Swapan Mondal, Mizanur Rahman and Abdur Razzque, have brought a total of 9 bighas of land under the broccoli cultivation this year.

Pradip Biswas said, “I’ve brought my land under broccoli cultivation. I used vermin compost fertiliser and I didn’t apply any pesticide in my land. I also produced the saplings of broccoli and supplied those to other farmers.”

At the beginning, broccoli was sold at Tk 70-80 per kg and this year, one kg of broccoli is being sold at Tk 60.

Al-Amin Hossain, local field organiser of ‘Safal’, said farmers brought 5-10 decimals of land under broccoli cultivation last season but 9 bighas of land have been cultivated in the current season.

Hirak Kumar Sarkar, upazila agriculture officer of Manirampur, said broccoli contains nutrition and it helps reduce high blood pressure and the cholesterol level in a human body and fights other diseases.

In the winter season, it can be cultivated twice on the same land, he said.