BSS, Rangpur :A record bumper production of mustard seed is likely in Rangpur agriculture region during this 2015-2016 Rabi season as harvest of the crop just began with excellent yield rates, official sources said.Harvest of the crop continues in full swing in riverine char lands while the process will get full momentum by this month end in the main land areas.With the arrival of the newly harvested mustard in the local markets, its price fell down to Taka 1,800 per maund (40 kg) on an average against the price of Taka 2,100 per maund last month in the region, market sources said.According to sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the farmers are expecting an all-time record bumper mustard production after exceeding its fixed farming target by 41.91 percent in the region this time.Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its Rangpur regional office Khandker Md. Mesbahul Islam said the farmers have just started harvesting of mustard and the process will continue till the end of the next month.According to DAE sources, the farmers have cultivated mustard on 44,705 hectares of land against the fixed target of bringing 31,502 hectares of land under its cultivation to produce 37,172 tonne of the oilseed this season in the region.However, the overall production of the oilseed might cross 52,750 tonnes as farmers have brought 13,203 hectares or 41.91 percent more lands under its cultivation than the fixed target in all five districts under the region this season.The farmers have cultivated mustard on 7,290 hectares of land in Rangpur, 12,410 hectares in Gaibandha, 19,230 hectares in Kurigram, 1,715 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 4,060 hectares of land in Nilphamari districts in the region.In addition to various steps taken by different agriculture related organisations, distribution of huge mustard seed and fertilisers among the flood-hit farmers through the DAE has assisted the farmers for cultivating mustard in more lands this season.The inputs were distributed among the flood-affected farmers to assist them in recouping crop losses under the comprehensive post-flood agriculture rehabilitation, agriculture incentive distribution and cost-free seed distribution programmes.Under the programmes, 81,600-kg mustard seeds were distributed among 81,600 flood-hit farmers with one kg each and each of them got 20 kg DAP and 10 kg MoP for mustard cultivation in Rangpur, Gaibandha and Kurigram districts.Predicting bumper production of mustard, Acting Rangpur Regional Additional Director of DAE SM Ashraf Ali said farmers have exceeded its farming target in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari districts in the region this season.
