BSS, Rangpur :
Farmers are expecting a bumper production of mustard in Rangpur agriculture region as its harvest will begin from the next month during the current Rabi season.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the flowering mustard plants have given a fascinating yellowish look to crop fields and nature amid superb climatic conditions pleasing farmers and common people.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 53,733 tonnes of mustard from 38,710 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the region this season.
“The fixed production target of 53,733 tonnes of mustard for this season is higher by 2,191 tonnes than the production of 51,542 tonnes of last season,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Mahbubur Rahman told BSS .
Farmers have finally cultivated mustard on 38,633 hectares of land this season.
The government has distributed quality mustard seeds and fertilizers as special incentives among flood-affected small and marginal farmers to cultivate mustard on one bigha of land each to recoup crop losses they incurred during last year’s floods.
Despite a little shortfall of only 77 hectares of land against the fixed farming target this year, farmers are expected to exceed the fixed production target of mustard following cultivation of its high yielding varieties of the crop on more land.
Farmers have mostly cultivated high yielding varieties of mustard like ‘Tori 7’, BARI-9, BARI-14, BARI-15 and BINA-4 on more land area and excellent growth of the crop plants predicts bumper production.
After getting excellent production with lucrative prices between Tk 3,000 and Tk 3,200 per mound (every 40 kg) last year, farmers have shown more interest in cultivating the highly profitable crop this season.
“The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and other agri-related organizations have extended assistance to farmers to make the extensive mustard cultivation programme a success,” Rahman added.
Farmers Mokhlesur Rahman, Shamsul Haque and Abdul Gafur of different upazilas in Rangpur said they are expecting a bumper production of mustard this season.
Farmers Manik Mian of village Darshona in Rangpur Sadar said he sowed mustard seeds after harvesting short duration Aman rice on the same land and is expecting to harvest the crop from mid-February next.
Talking to BSS, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said farmers have cultivated mustard on the vast char areas alongside the mainland this time after getting repeated bumper output in recent years.
“Farmers are expanding cultivation of mustard adopting newer cropping patterns after getting repeated bumper output and lucrative market prices in the last 12 years,” Rashid said, and predicted a bumper production of the highly profitable crop this season.
Baraigram (Natore) Correspondent adds: Farmers and agriculturists are expecting bumper mustard yields in Baraigram of Natore. Gatherings of mustard flowers are being decorated at the crop-fields in different villages of the upazila. Alpana of raw yellow is prevailing in the evergreen chest. Mustard flowers are yellow in color. The bee’s buzz is now buzzing in grain field. If the weather is favorable, the farmers hope to get mustard good production and yield in the current Rabi season. This year, 45% farmers have cultivated High Yielding Variety (HYV) Bari-14 of mustard in the upazila. Besides, Tori-6 and Bari-15 of (HYV) variety have been cultivated along with local varieties of mustard. Going to the crop-field of Kalikapur village on Monday, it is seen that there is a beautiful view of mustard flowers all over the field. Attracted by mustard flowers, bees are collecting honey. Young men and women are fascinated by the beauty of mustard flowers and are taking pictures in different poses.The plants and flowers are quite fresh, which indicates the possibility of good yield.
Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, an inhabitant of Kumrul village, former chairman of Joaria UP of the upazila said,’I have sown mustard on 2 acres of land on the advice of the Upazila Agriculture Officer. I have sown seeds at the rate of 3 kg per acre. The cost including fertilizer, seeds, irrigation, pesticides is 7-8 thousand taka per acre. 15 to 16 mands of mustard is produced per acre of land. I am hoping for bumper yield by sowing seeds of Bari-14 and Tori-6 varieties in my land.” Mojibur Rahman, a farmer of Joaria village said, “I have cultivated mustard on 2 bighas of land. The plants are now fresh. I am expecting 5 to 6 mands yield per bigha. “
A honey trader of Laxikol Bazar Abu Hena Mostafa said, “I have about 1,200 boxes of honeycomb.This year, I am collecting about 120 kg of pure honey per week from the mustard field and the price of honey is also good.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mst. Sharmin Sultana said that the target for mustard cultivation in the current Rabi season was 360 hectares of land and the production target was 456 Mt. Whereas Mustard has been cultivated in 696 hectares of land exceeding the target. Hence, it is expected to produce 108 Mt of mustard crop.
He further said that fertilizers and seeds have been officially distributed among the farmers as an agricultural incentive to encourage mustard cultivation. Uthan meetings are being held with the farmers including visiting mustard lands in different villages. Due to the fall in the price of garlic, the cultivation of mustard has increased in this season. On the other hand, oil-price in the market is high comparatively than that of garlic.
