Mustard harvesting begins in Panchagarh

Farmers in Panchagarh district have started harvesting Mustard with much-enthusiasm as they have got bumper production of the crop.

Farmers are happy to see bumper production and get fair price of the oil seed as per maund (40 kg) mustard is being sold at Tk 2500 to Tk 3000.

Many farmers have said favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agri-inputs were the main reasons behind the bumper production.

Mustard harvest has started in the first week of February which will continue till end of March.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said about 6,040 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation this year with the production target of 10,535 tonnes of mustard seeds.

The DAE sources said this year the weather was good and the department has ensured supply of seed, fertilizers, pesticide and other agri-inputs to the farmers at a cost of free for boosting production of mustard.

The DAE has also given training on use modern technology to the farmers for mustard cultivation to make the farming a success.

"I have cultivated high yield Bari-14 variety of mustard on five bighas of land spending Tk 27,000 aiming to become financially self-reliant," said farmer Sunil Kumar under Debiganj upazila.

He said, "I am expecting over 40 maunds of output from the crop land".

Another farmer Rasidul said he mostly depends on mustard cultivation every season.

He uses fungicide, pesticide along with chemical fertilizer at his mustard field during the time of tilling the land.

Deputy director of DAE Panchagarh Md Rias Uddin said fungicide and pesticide is boosting the production of farmers crop including mustard seed.

The farmer show more interest to grow the crops as its cultivation is easy and lucrative, he added.