Coloured cauliflowers make debut in Kolkata markets this winter – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Some of the city’s markets have now occasionally witnessed purple and orange coloured cauliflowers due to the efforts of a farmer, Pramatha Maji (62), resident of Brindaban Chak village in Kolaghat, East Midnapore.
He cultivated multi-coloured cauliflowers on a large scale for the first time after buying seeds online.
“Last year, during the end of August, I first weaved Valentena and Carotena seeds in my field which took 75-85 days to yield,” Maji said. The owner of 3.5 acres of fertile land, he has a knack of experimenting with different types of hybrid vegetables since 2013.
“During the period, the district’s horticulture department began introducing workshops and interactive sessions with seed producers and cultivators,” he said.

Farmer Pramath Majhi of Brindaban Chak village of Kolaghat, East Midnapore with cultivated Valentena and Carotena cauliflowers in his field.

These hybrid cauliflowers – belonging to the cruciferous vegetables or cabbage family such as Valentena (purple), Carotena (orange) and popular Broccoflower (green) – were developed naturally by plant breeders.
“The colours are so attractive that customers make a lot of queries. But initially, we found it difficult to sell,” said Gobinda Dey, a vegetable seller who has a 45-year-old shop at Jadubabu’s Bazar in Bhowanipore. The cauliflowers retail between Rs 50 and Rs 60.

Valentena and Carotena

Valentena and Carotena on sale at Jadubabu’s Bazar in Bhowanipur, Kolkata.

These cauliflowers are beneficial for the eyes and heart as they offer rich nutritional values. Valentena’s purple colour makes it very high in anthocyanin, which is a naturally occurring phytochemical that is also found in other red, blue, or purple fruits like berries, currants, grapes and some tropical fruits, experts said.
Carotena, also known as Cheddar cauliflower, has a bright orange colour and contains beta-carotene which is a precursor to Vitamin A.
Maji began cultivating broccoflowers – a cross between broccoli and cauliflower – from 2014 and found a huge demand in recent times. This year, he cultivated around 800 broccoflowers and supplied them through the winter season..
Hopeful about future prospects, Maji said, “According to 50 years of my farming experience, these cauliflowers will become a popular choice for customers in the next few years in our state, similar to broccoflower.” This time he cultivated about 1,500 Valentena and Carotena each.

Gourab

Gourab Mondal (29), a young farmer from Shyampur I block in Howrah who cultivated Valentena and Carotena on an experimental basis for the first time.

Apart from Maji, some farmers from other districts have started cultivating multi-coloured cauliflowers on an experimental basis in Howrah, North 24 Parganas North and Nadia, which are hitting the wholesale Howrah and Koley markets frequently.
“I took a risk to cultivate Valentena and Carotena for the first time in a very small scale and the result is amazing,” said Gourab Mondal (29), a young farmer from Shyampur I block in Howrah district who sold the cauliflowers at an average wholesale price of Rs 40 each.

Source: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiQFodHRwczovL3RpbWVzb2ZpbmRpYS5pbmRpYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jaXR5L2tvbGthdGEvY29sb3VyZWQtY2F1bGlmbG93ZXJzLW1ha2UtZGVidXQtaW4ta29sa2F0YS1tYXJrZXRzLXRoaXMtd2ludGVyL2FydGljbGVzaG93Lzk3NDA5MzkxLmNtc9IBhAFodHRwczovL20udGltZXNvZmluZGlhLmNvbS9jaXR5L2tvbGthdGEvY29sb3VyZWQtY2F1bGlmbG93ZXJzLW1ha2UtZGVidXQtaW4ta29sa2F0YS1tYXJrZXRzLXRoaXMtd2ludGVyL2FtcF9hcnRpY2xlc2hvdy85NzQwOTM5MS5jbXM?oc=5