The Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (Bina) invented variety of mustard, Bina Mustard 9, has brought smiles on the faces of farmers in Gopalganj.
The climate resistant variety yielded double the mustard at half the cost than other varieties, said the farmers.
Abdus Sattar, a farmer at Kashiyani upazila under the district, sowed the seeds of Bina Mustard-9 on November last year and harvested the crop in February.
"I used to get a 600 kg of mustard cultivating the local variety on a hectre of land but this time I could grow 1600 kg with the Bina variety," he added.
Sattar said that he expended Tk30,000 for the new variety cultivation and expected profit of Tk72,000.
"My neighbors became very curious about the new variety observing my success," he said and added that next year other farmers would cultivate it.
Local office of the Bina informed that farmers grew the new variety mustard in 100 exposition-plot at the five upazilas of the district.
"We are working to increase the productivity of crops in Gopalganj. Our goal is to facilitate farmers cultivating at least four crops in a year," said Md Belal Hossain, officer-in-charge at Gopalganj Bina substation.
The new variety took little time (80 to 84 days) to yield the crop, which ultimately benefited the farmers, he added.
Scientific Officer at the Bina officen Rabaiul Islam Akand said that the new variety mustard seedlings could survive in adverse climate, even in heavy rainfall.
Besides, it was resistant to several common diseases including leaf burning, he said and added that the Bina Mustard-9 had no harmful effects on the human body.
Farmers will be benefitted from cultivating the new variety of mustard, believes the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Gopalganj DAE Deputy Director Ramesh Chandra Brahma hoped that the Bina Mustard-9 would be popular in the region for the variety's high yielding feature.
"The high production of the crop can relax the country, reducing dependency on edible oil imports," he said, adding that the new variety produced quality oil.
