BSS, Rajshahi :
By virtue of lucrative market price and gradually mounting consumers’ demands farming of broccoli, a non-conventional winter vegetable, has been gaining popularity in the region.
Dev Dulal Dhali, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said farmers are showing their interest in cultivating Broccoli for the last couple of years due to better output and market price.
He mentioned that there has been a bright prospect of broccoli farming commercially in the country’s northwest region. He said the prolonged cold weather being experienced in the region for the last couple of years which is suitable for cultivation of Broccoli that is locally known as green cauliflower.
Almost similar to the cauliflower and its green leaves enriched with protein and vitamin C can be consumed directly. The price of broccoli in the markets is three to four times more than cauliflower.
Broccoli is gradually becoming popular among the urban people and the Chinese restaurants together with the grand hotels are using broccoli for making soup and other delicious foods creating demand for the vegetable.
ATM Rafiqul Islam, Project Director (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, told BSS that the crop was unfamiliar to the farmers and consumers of the rural areas.
He said various agricultural extension and research organizations have taken initiatives to make farming of the crop popular among the growers level. DAE has also grown the crop in projection plots aimed at encouraging the farmers towards boosting its production commercially. He added the vegetable could easily be cultivated in the normal farming field as it is more tolerable to high-temperature than cauliflower and cabbage. Nutritive value of the crop was more than any other winter vegetable including cabbage and cauliflower.
Rafiqul Islam said importance should be given to encouraging the farmers through providing them with necessary financial support and inputs. The farming method was almost similar to the cabbage and cauliflower. At least 40,000 to 50,000 plants could be produced from per hectare in 65-70 days.
53 farmers get Taka 24 lakh loans
A total of 53 farmers having Taka 10 bank accounts received agricultural loan worth Taka 24 lakh on less interest rate in open place here on Sunday.
Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) disbursed the loan under its inclusive banking scheme in a function at Walia High School playground under Lalpur Upazila.
Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur attended and addressed the programme as the chief guest stressing the need for bringing all farming population under inclusive banking for improving the country’s economy.
Highlighting enormous prospects of farming various crops like pulse, spice, vegetable and fruits here he urged the field level bankers to bring the farming under lending process and urged them to perform duties with utmost sincerity and honesty to speed up the ongoing farmers-level lending activities.
Quality banking and lending activities could be effective means of boosting agricultural production to meet the gradually increasing food demand in the country.
“So, there is no alternative to making all the credit programmes need-oriented and time-befitting. Emphasis should be given on reaching banking services to the farmers’ doorsteps collectively,” he said.
With RAKUB Managing Director Syed Abu Asad in the chair, General Managers Sazammul Islam and Rafiqul Alam Chowdhury, Deputy General Managers Masud Karim, Abdur Razzaque and Saidur Rahman and Deputy General Manager (Financial Inclusion Department) of Bangladesh Bank Rejaul Karim Sarker also spoke
Deputy Governor SK Sur laid stress on bringing all the existing potential sectors and sub-sectors of agriculture and its processing under qualitative and quantitative financing for making the country’s northwest region economically vibrant.
Pro- farmers banking must be ensured for cherished development of the region after the best use of its existing natural resources. “You have to supplement the government efforts for boosting the agricultural production, livelihood development of the farmers,” he added.
“We have no way but to boost up the agricultural production to ensure food security and reduce dependence on import,” Mr Sur opined.
