UNB, Thakurgaon :
Farmers in Thakurgaon district are expecting a bumper harvest of mustard beyond their expectations this year, thanks to the favourable weather.
Mustard has been cultivated in a vast tract of Ranishankoil upazila of the district this season and landscape here has already turned yellow raising hopes among the farmers.
Officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) say they hope the mustard cultivators will make better profit this year due to the favourable weather.
Besides, there is no report of major pest attack, which increases the hope of high harvest.
Mustard is a cool-weather crop and is grown from seeds sown in early spring. Farmers cultivate mustard from mid-December to end of January and the bright yellow mustard flowers are now in full bloom everywhere.
During a recent visit to Lehemba, Birashi, Ratore, Nandua, Bharnia and Dharmagarh villages in Ranishankoil upazila of the district, this UNB correspondent found that a vast track of lands has been brought under the mustard cultivation and field after field in the upazila are now full of yellow flowers, making people cheerful in the dry season.
Farmers are passing a busy time taking care of beehives and collecting honey from mustard fields.
This year, some 50 bighas of land under Nanduar union in the upazila has been brought under mustard cultivation and the local DAE officials distributed mustard seeds and fertilisers to 1600 farmers in the upazila.
Sadequl Islam, deputy assistant officer of Upazila officer of DAE, said the authorities concerned have set a target to bring 4,950 hectares of land under mustard cultivation which was 3,850 hectares last year.
Abdul Matin, a mustard grower of Lehemba village in the upazila, said he brought 40 decimals of land under mustard cultivation. He also expected a bumper yield of mustard as the crop had grown well.
Hafizur Rahman, another farmer of the village, said “I have bought 33 decimals of land under mustard cultivation as the price of oil is high in the local market.” Sanjay Debnath, Ranishankoil Upazila Agriculture officer said, farmers are able to cultivate two varieties of paddy after harvesting mustard in their field which is a boon for them. This year, mustard cultivation is exceeding the previous year’s target as it is proved to be profitable.
“Last year, the potato farmers had a huge loss and that is another reason which forced the farmers to opt for mustard,” he said.
