Photo : BSS

By Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Oct 29, 2025 (BSS) - Summer cabbage farming has become a profitable venture in Rajshahi as it is a high-value, off-season crop that sells at high prices due to strong consumer demand.

Farmers across the region are increasingly adopting this practice, reporting better profits compared to the winter season, particularly when using advanced cultivation techniques and high-yielding varieties.

The profitability is supported by rising market demand and is especially prevalent in areas like Godagari, Paba, and Puthiya upazilas.

Growers and traders are getting high market prices since cabbage, being an unseasonal vegetable, is sold at a premium - often much higher than in the peak winter season.

A growing number of farmers were seen cultivating summer cabbage commercially in the region, including the vast Barind tract, over the past couple of years due to its expanding popularity and economic potential.

Although traditionally a winter vegetable in Bangladesh, cabbage is now being cultivated successfully throughout the year, making it a new income source for many rural farmers.

The off-season vegetables have been selling at exorbitant prices in both wholesale and retail markets for over a month, inspiring many others to take up cultivation of the cash crop.

Muhammad Milon, 45, a farmer of Golai village under Godagari upazila, has cultivated cabbage on around 10 bighas of land and has been selling it for the last two weeks.

"The demand for off-season vegetables is on the rise across the country due to people's increasing awareness about food value and proper nutrition," he said.

Entazul Haque, 54, another farmer of Fulbari village, cultivated the crop on three bighas of land and has already completed selling vegetables from one bigha.

"This off-season vegetable is giving better profit to the growers compared to the winter season," he added.

Azizul Islam, 45, a farmer of Imamganj village under Godagari upazila, cultivated cabbage on around one and a half bigha of land with more than 10,500 plants during the current season after gaining success from ten kathas of land in the previous year.

"I have been selling the newly harvested vegetable at Tk 60 per kilogram on average for the last two weeks," he said, adding that the profit is much higher compared to the winter season.

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Khan, retired professor of the Department of Medicine at Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, said increasing consumption of plant-based foods like cabbage reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

He added that cabbage helps promote a healthy complexion, boosts energy, and contributes to weight loss. Quoting research findings, he mentioned that the fiber and water content in cabbage help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive system.

"Eating adequate fiber promotes regularity, which is crucial for the excretion of toxins through bile and stool," Prof Khan said.

Recent studies have also shown that dietary fiber plays a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation, consequently decreasing the risk of inflammation-related diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Saker said there is growing interest among farmers to cultivate summer cauliflower and cabbage in Rajshahi.

Currently, around 70 enthusiastic farmers from eight villages are cultivating high-valued crops on around 350 bighas of land in the Iswaripur block of Dewpara Union, and most of them are reportedly satisfied with the farming outcome.

Godagari Upazila Agriculture Officer Mariam Ahmed said the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is providing technical support to the farmers to make vegetable farming more profitable.

"Vegetable farming is more profitable compared to cereal crops, including paddy," she added.

Umme Salma, Deputy Director of DAE, said cauliflower and cabbage are currently being cultivated on around 20 hectares of land in the district, with Godagari, Paba, Puthiya, and Durgapur upazilas dominating the field.

She said farmers are reaping benefits from vegetable farming, which is bringing smiles to the faces of marginal farmers and underprivileged communities.