The framers are expecting a bumper mustard production as they are on the way to achieve
the fixed farming target and the crop fields are now in full bloom everywhere in the northern
region, official sources said.
The farmers almost completed sowing of mustard seeds after harvesting early variety
Aman rice, vegetables and the blooming crop is growing excellent under favourable climatic
conditions everywhere including the char areas on the river basins.
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khandker Md.
Mesbahul Islam said that the farmers are expected to start harvesting of mustard from the
middle of January.
According to the DAE sources, the farmers have cultivated mustard in 2,47,394 hectares land
against the fixed target of bringing 2,52,353 hectares under its cultivation to produce 3,02,824
tonnes of the oilseeds this season in the region.
However, the farmers are expected to exceed the fixed farming target as sowing of the late
variety mustard seeds will continue till this month-end at places, the DAE sources said.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, (BADC) Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute (BARI) and NGOs have distributed quality mustard seeds and banks agri-
loans among the farmers to make mustard farming programme successful this season.
The blooming mustard fields have worn eye-catching yellow looks in vast char and mainland
areas of Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Bogra, Sirajganj and Pabna
districts on the river basins, where the seeds were sowed earlier.
The farmers have mostly sowed the popular high yielding BARI variety mustard seeds evolved
by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) this season like in the previous years.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the
farmers have been showing more interests in farming mustard in more lands after getting
repeated bumper productions and excellent prices in recent years.
Rangpur Regional Additional Director of DAE Sikander Ali said necessary training, assistance,
inputs, quality seeds, technologies and agri-loans have been provided to the farmers for making
mustard farming programme successful this season. -BSS, Rangpur
