Cauliflower now a burden for farmers

Farmers in the Rangpur region are facing significant losses despite a bumper cauliflower harvest this season.
Each cauliflower, weighing around 1 kilogramme, is being sold wholesale for just Tk 2-3, while the cost of production is Tk 5-6.
Last year, during the same period, each cauliflower fetched Tk 10-12.
Unable to cover even the cost of production, many farmers are leaving their cauliflowers in the field instead of harvesting them.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), cauliflower was cultivated on 20,000 hectares across five districts in Rangpur division -- Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari. Early variety cauliflower was grown on 3,000 hectares, with the rest devoted to winter variety cultivation.
Officials noted that farmers who cultivated early variety cauliflower managed to make a profit.
Sekender Ali, a 50-year-old farmer from Fulgachh village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said he cultivated early variety cauliflower on one bigha and winter variety on four bighas.
"Around 4,000-4,500 cauliflowers can be grown on one bigha at a production cost of Tk 5-6 per piece. I sold the early variety at Tk 60-70 apiece wholesale, but now the winter variety is selling for just Tk 2-3 each. I will face a significant loss from my winter variety harvest and may not cultivate it next season," he said.
Nazrul Islam, a 65-year-old farmer from Mahipur village in Rangpur's Gangachhara upazila, shared similar concerns.
Akkas Ali Bapari, a vegetable vendor in Rangpur city, said wholesalers from across the country purchased cauliflowers from Rangpur region last year. This year, they are not coming, causing a sharp drop in demand while supply remains high.
As a result, farmers are being forced to sell their cauliflowers at extremely low prices, with many unable to sell their produce at all. Large quantities of cauliflowers are rotting in wholesale markets.
Obaidur Rahman Mandal, additional director of DAE in Rangpur division, said the bumper yield of winter variety cauliflower created an oversupply in the market, pushing prices down and leaving farmers disappointed.
"Farmers who grew early variety cauliflower benefited more," he added.
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