Mustard growers in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts are elated thanks to the higher output in the ongoing harvesting season as well as the increased price of the cooking oil owing to rising consumption amid the volatile soybean oil market. Using the land between the gap of Aman and Boro paddy season, farmers take home additional incomes by cultivating the improved varieties of the crop. The higher yield and extra profits in a short duration have led to an expansion of the crop’s cultivation area in the northern districts. Besides, the increasing consumption of the oilseed has kept its price at a higher level as consumers consider the cooking oil good for health in comparison to other edible oils.
Each maund of mustard is being sold at Tk 3,000-3,200 at the farmers’ level in the ongoing harvesting season, up from Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,200 during the same time last year. Usually, the price doesn’t see such a spike during the harvesting season. But consumers are increasingly switching to mustard oil after the soybean oil segment became volatile in recent times for the rise in prices globally and locally. About 13,374 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation in Thakurgaon against the target of 12,635 hectares. The production target has been set at 19,711 tonnes. Last season, the growers produced 19,698 tonnes of mustard by cultivating them on 12,635 hectares. In Panchagarh, farmers have sown the oilseed on 4,145 hectares against the official goal of 3,050 hectares. The production target is 4,484 tonnes. Farmers and agriculture officials expect the production target to surpass after seeing the yield at various places in the two districts.
Mustard growing requires simple effort and light irrigation twice. This is less costly compared to the cultivation of other crops. As the price of soybean oil has gone up abnormally, a growing number of people prefer mustard oil to soybean. The higher yield and extra profits in a short duration have led to an expansion of the crop’s cultivation area in the northern districts.
