Bumper mustard yield, good price

Mustard farmers of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh are happy due to good production of the crop and its fair prices in the local markets during the ongoing harvesting season.

Mustard was cultivated on 8,840 hectares of land against the target of 10,023 hectares, with production target of 12,328 tonnes in Thakurgaon, said Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Thakurgaon Maududul Islam

The crop was cultivated on 1,694 hectares in Panchagarh against the target of 2,100 hectares, with production target of 2,100 tonnes, said an office assistant of DAE in Panchagarh.       

Farmers have cultivated mainly six varieties of mustard -- BARI Sarisha 9, BARI Sarisha 11, BARI Sarisha 14, BARI Sarisha 15, Tori 7 (a local improved variety) and Bashori (Indian). 

Harvesting began from the first week of February, farmers said.       

Narayan Chandra Barman, 42, of Dakkhin Bothina village in Sadar upazila said he cultivated mustard on 50 decimals at a cost of Tk 3,300 and got eight maunds, which he sold in the local market for Tk 12,800.

Md Masum of Moidandighi village in Boda upazila said he got six maunds of mustard and made profit of Tk 7,000.

"Mustard cultivation requires only a little irrigation and is easier and less costly than cultivation of other crops, but it brings good profit. It is cultivated during the period between aman and boro paddy farming," said farmer Masum.

October to mid-November is the suitable time for mustard cultivation and it takes 65 to 70 days to get the yield, said DAE officials, adding that many farmers in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh cultivate the crop till late December as they get bumper yield and good prices.    

The DAE authorities campaigned among the farmers for cultivating hybrid varieties of mustard developed by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) during the gap between aman and boro to get better profit.

The DAE, BARI and other organisations distributed quality mustard seeds while commercial banks disbursed agriculture loan among farmers in the two districts for cultivation of the cash crop.

Maududul said farmers have achieved the good yield of the crop due to good climatic condition, proper care and smooth supply of agro inputs.