Mustard farmers get the largest incentive

Mustard seed farmers are receiving the largest amount of government incentives compared to other Rabi season crops, which has become a key factor in the rapid expansion of this oil seed cultivation across the country this year.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Bangladesh allocated Tk45 crore as incentive to mustard seed farmers in FY23. Of this figure, around 43.28 crore or 95.64 per cent have already been disbursed so far.

Ten lakh mustard cultivators are supposed to get this incentive, and 9.56 lakh farmers already got it until November 28. The positive impact of this initiative can be observed in the fields.

Around 4.95 lakh hectares of land came under mustard cultivation until November 28, which was around 3.59 lakh hectare when compared year-on-year. The cultivation of this oilseed increased by 37.86 per cent compared to last year.

The government has set a target to bring 6.7 lakh hectares of land under mustard cultivation in FY23 and production target set at 11.11 lakh tonnes.

In the last FY, farmers cultivated mustard on 6.106 lakh hectares and produced 8.243 lakh tonnes of seeds. The country produced a total 12.318 lakh tonnes of oil seeds including soybean, sesame, and sunflower.

Currently, Bangladesh produces less than 10 per cent of its edible oil demand, and is largely dependent on imports. That is why the government took an initiative to increase oil seed production in the country, sources say.

According to the government plan, the country wants to meet at least 40 per cent demand of the essential commodity from locally produced oil seeds. In this case, mustard is more suitable for expanding its cultivation.

Speaking to The Business Post, Additional Director (Field Service Wing) of DAE Mohammad Abduhu said, “We have a specific plan to increase oil seed production. We want to reduce import dependency as much as we can.

“Mustard seed production is increasing gradually, and it will continue to go up in the coming days.”

Abduhu, who is also in charge of the field service wing, said “We are incentivising oil seed production as part of our plan. And Mustard has potential. Mustard can be cultivated in between the gap of Aman and Boro rice cultivation.

“That is why we are focusing on reducing the lifetime of rice varieties so that mustard can be cultivated on more lands.”

What about the other incentives?

The second highest incentive – worth around Tk35 crore – was allocated to wheat cultivation. A total of 2.50 lakh wheat farmers are receiving the incentives. Among them, 1.70 lakh farmers received the incentive, and 68.09 per cent of the money has been disbursed.

Third highest amount of incentives is going to maize farmers. The government allocated Tk17.41 crore to 1.35 lakh maize farmers. Among them, 14,760 farmers received the incentives and 10.93 per cent of the money has been disbursed.

Maize is followed by Sunflower. A total of 70,000 Sunflower cultivators are receiving Tk 16.26 crore as incentive. Among them 43,460 farmers received incentive so far while 62.09 per cent money has been allocated.

And Tk7.30 crore allocated for 1 lakh Mug farmers. Of them, 1,630 farmers received the money and 1.63 per cent money has been distributed to the farmers so far. 

Among others, Tk 4.26 crore was allocated for peanuts, Tk 4.06 crore for winter onion, Tk 2.87 crore for khesari, Tk 2.04 crore for lentils and Tk 1.73 crore for soybean cultivation.

The government allocated Tk 136.93 crore for 10 crops of Rabi season, which are cultivated between mid-November to April. Farmers are getting seeds and three types of fertilisers as incentives.

The DAE is providing 20 kg seed for wheat, 2 kg for maize, 1kg for mustard, 1 kg for sunflower, 10 kg for peanuts, 1 kg for soybean, 1kg for winter onion, 5kg for mung bean, 5kg for lentil and 8 kg for khesari seeds for per bigha of land.

A farmer can get incentives only for one type of crop. Similarly, a farmer can obtain fertiliser only for one crop.

Wheat, mustard, sunflower, soybean and winter onion farmers will get 10 kg MOP and 10 KG DAP fertilisers, while Lentil, mung bean, khesari cultivator will get 10 kg DAP and 5 kg MOP each. A maize farmer is eligible for obtaining 20 kg DAP and 10 kg MOP.