An excellent growth of mustard in most of the districts across the country has made the growers optimistic of getting bumper production during the current season.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reports, the cultivation of mustard has been easier in the districts due to favourable weather conditions and timely supply of necessary agri-inputs.
When our correspondents visited the several fields, they found blooming mustard fields making farmers hopeful. Bees and flies are tasting honey drenched in the shroud of morning dew.
According to sources, the land of six south-western districts under Khulna division is suitable for cultivating different crops, including mustard. Every winter season is a blessing for the local farmers.
The districts are - Jessore, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Meherpur and Magura.
Officials of DAE said mustard cultivation is increasing every year as the farmers are showing interest in expanding its farming after getting repeated bumper production with excellent market price in the recent years.
A total of 53,996 hectares of land have been brought under cultivation in the districts this year.
Additional Director of Jessore DAE Partho Pratim Saha said bumper mustard production is expected due to favourable weather conditions along with adequate supply of necessary seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
District wise mustard cultivation follows as 15,000 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in Jessore district, 10,200 hectares of land in Jhenaidah district, 7,600 hectares in Kushtia, 4,950 hectares of land in Meherpur district, 2,896 hectares in Chuadanda and 13,350 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in Magura district.
Farmers cultivated different high yielding varieties of mustard on their land including BARI-9,11,14,15,17 BINA-4,7,9,10 and TARI variety-7, said Sub-Assistant agriculture officer of DAE Shariful Islam.
The cultivation of mustard is increasing in the region day by day. Most farmers of the region are cultivating mustard on their fallow land and its bumper production, he said.
Mustard farming has become more profitable than many other crops encouraging the farmers in cultivating the more lands, he added.
In Jamalpur, farmers of the district have cultivated mustard on 21,850 hectares of land which is 310 hectares more than the last year, said sources of DAE.
The DAE disbursed incentives among 33,000 small and marginal farmers for increasing mustard production in the district. Each of the farmers got mustard seed to cultivate 33,000 Bighas of land.
The offices said farmers cultivated mustard on 6,000 hectares of land with a production target 8,100 tons in Jamalpur Sadar upazila.
Deputy Director, DAE, Md Aminul Islam said implementation of various incentive programs have increased mustard cultivation this year.
In Chapainawabganj, The farmers in the district are expecting a bumper mustard yield this season due to favourable weather.
Easy cultivation process and lower production cost compared to other Robi crops is also a reason behind popularity of mustard cultivation among the farmers in the district.
October to mid-November is the suitable time for mustard cultivation and it takes 80 to 85 days to get the yield, said Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Nazrul Islam, deputy director of Chapainawabganj Department of Agricultural Extension.
The farmers in the district have cultivated mustard on 16, 720 hectares of land against the DAE’s target of 15, 560 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district.
In Rajshahi, mustard farming has gained momentum in Bagha upazila of the district due to favourable weather.
Farmers of the upazila are expecting bumper production seeing cultivation-friendly situations.
Most of the mustard has been cultivated in the riverbank area of the upazila. As the cultivation requires less care and cost, farmers of this upazila are now being interested in it.
Upazila agriculture department sources said, this year, mustard farming has reduced slightly than last year. However, a large quantity of mustard has been cultivated in the Padma riverbank.
The sources also said mustard has been cultivated in 1,250 hectares of land in the upazila, and it was 1,400 hectare last year.
Hedayet Hossain Molla, Khulna, Bishwajit Dev, Jamalpur, Md Anwar Hossain, Chapainawabganj and Dulal Abdullah from Rajshahi contribute to the stories.