Home ›› 22 Jan 2023 ›› Nation
The farmers of eight districts in the Rangpur division are hopeful about achieving a good yield of mustard this season.
Visiting different areas this correspondent found the mustard growers under the division in a cheerful mood as they have been witnessing congenial weather conditions this year.
This made them hopeful about attaining a bountiful production of their produce this season.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rangpur set a target of producing 73,523 tonnes of mustard from 49,290 hectares of land in five districts of the Rangpur Agricultural Zone this year while the production target was 53,733 tonnes from 38,710 hectares of land last year.
"Farmers have finally brought 52,552 hectares of land under the crop cultivation exceeding the farming target by 3,262 hectares of land or 6.62 per cent,” said, Additional Director DAE Rangpur, Agriculturist Mohammad Shah Alam.
He also said, "The government has given more priority to mustard cultivation this season intending to achieve self-reliance on the production of edible oils from locally produced oilseeds.”
The DAE has taken different initiatives to support the farmers, he added.
The farmers, however, in the districts are leaning toward farming gradually as it is a short-term crop and benefits them. The crop production is increasing for its economic viability. The seed of the crop is usually sown in the lands at the beginning of November. The harvesting of the crop would likely be completed by the end of January and the farmers go for Boro paddy or maize cultivation in the same fields afterwards.
The farmers got the benefit of the crop selling at Tk 3,500-4,200 per maund (40 kg) last year, so, they have shown more interest this year in crop farming.
The DAE has supported small and marginal farmers to make the extensive mustard cultivation program a success.
Farmers were given quality seeds and fertilisers free of cost from DAE for cultivation in the region under the government's agriculture incentive programme.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), and non-government organisations have also supported the farmers.
Shah Alam also said that mustard oil seed production would also help to increase the consumption of pure edible oil in the country.
Afzal Hossain, 65, of Imadpur village under Mithapukur upazila, said he got benefit from cultivating the crop on two bighas of land last year. He has brought four bighas of land under crop farming this year and is expecting a good harvest.
Hafizur Rahman, a farmer of Dhumgara village at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur said to the Business Post that he cultivated the crop on 45 decimals of land during this season and the condition of its growth is excellent.
The smooth supply of water and other agri-inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides has boosted its cultivation, he also said.
“Cultivation of mustard is easier and less costly compared to other crops and we can get a good profit from it. I cultivated the crop on my one bigha of land this season and I am expecting to get an adequate yield of the produce,” said Maminur, a farmer at Abirerpara village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district.
The DAE sources said sufficient water supply, quality seeds, agri-inputs and congenial weather conditions enhanced mustard cultivation in the region this year, making the farmers optimistic about a good output of the crop.
Babul Akhtar, 45, another farmer of Bokbandha village under Rawmari upazila of Kurigram district said, he has cultivated three bighas of land spending around Tk 20,000. Plants in the lands are being matured. He is nurturing the lands properly. Harvesting of the crop will begin by the end of January. He hopes he will get at least 18 maunds of the crop from the lands. The price of the crop will be around Tk 50,000.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said, Bari Sorisha-14, and 15, Tori-7 are quality mustard seeds. The RDRS distributed quality seeds among 900 farmers in the region free of cost.
