A bumper production of mustard seeds is likely in Rangpur agriculture region during this 2021-2022 Rabi season as harvest of the crop has already begun with excellent yield rates.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said harvest of the crop continues in full swing on riverine char areas while the process is getting momentum on the main land areas to complete the process by this month-end.
Earlier, the DAE had fixed a target of producing 53,733 tonnes of mustard from 38,710 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari in the region.
“The fixed production target of 53,733 tonnes of mustard for this season is higher by 2,191 tonnes against the production of 51,542 tonnes of last season,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Mahbubur Rahman told BSS today.
Farmers have finally cultivated mustard on 39,290 hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target by 580 hectares of land or 1.50 percent this season.
“Till Monday, farmers have harvested mustard on 5,770 hectares of land producing 8,306 tonnes of the oilseeds at an average yield rate of 1.44 tonnes per hectare,” Rahman said.
The government distributed quality mustard seeds and fertilizers as special incentives among flood-hit farmers to cultivate mustard for enhancing production of the crop and recouping crop losses they incurred during last year’s floods.
After getting excellent production with lucrative prices between Taka 3,000 and Taka 3,200 per mound last year, farmers have shown more interest in cultivating the highly profitable crop this season.
“After exceeding the fixed farming target of mustard, farmers are expecting to cross the fixed production target following cultivation of high yielding varieties of the crop on more land during the current season,” he said.
Farmers have cultivated mostly high yielding varieties of mustard like ‘Tori 7’, BARI-9, BARI-14, BARI-15 and BINA-4 on more land area this season.
“The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and other agri-related organizations extended assistance to farmers to make the extensive mustard cultivation programme a success,” Rahman added.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said farmers have cultivated mustard on vast char areas alongside the mainland this season after getting repeated bumper output in recent years.
Rashid also predicted a bumper production of the highly profitable crop this season.
Farmers Abdul Malek, Mizanur Rahman, Aiyub Ali and Aminur Rahman of different villages in Kawnia and Gangachara upazilas of Rangpur said they are expecting a bumper production of mustard this season.
Farmer Ariful Haque of village Najirdigar in Rangpur Sadar said he sowed mustard seeds after harvesting short duration Aman rice on the same land and has already started harvesting the crop.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)