Bumper mustard yield likely

Many farmers in the district have started growing mustard as its production cost is less and there is no need for irrigation.

They are expecting bumper yield this season due to good seeds and favourable weather.

“Our underground water level is falling sharply and it is having a bad impact on agriculture and the environment,” said Nabiar Rahman, 50, a schoolteacher in Kakina village under Kaliganj upazila. “We have switched to farming mustard as this item can save our underground water,” he added.

Abdul Rahman, 62, of Doljor village in Aditmari upazila said he has cultivated mustard on two bigha lands for the first time as he was encouraged and supported by RDRS Bangladesh (a non-governmental organisation). “We were given training on how to cultivate mustard, and were also given seeds, fertiliser and input support free of cost by the NGO,” he said, adding that he hoped to get 13 to 14 maunds of mustard.

Jafar Ali, 48, said, “RDRS Bangladesh encouraged us to cultivate mustard, as it helps to keep the land fertile for farming the next crop.”

Meher Ali, 55, of Karnopur village in Lalmonirhat Sadar said they can produce five maunds to seven maunds of mustard from one bigha of land, with one maund selling for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,500 in the local market. “We spend Tk 1,200 to Tk 2,000 for seeds, ploughing and fertiliser on one bigha,” Meher added.

“Sometimes we face problems in selling mustard, so some farmers lost interest in farming this crop, but in recent times the market for mustard is high both locally and nationally,” said mustard trader Mizanur Rahman of Lalmonirhat town.

Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said it is essential to make farmers aware of farming environment-friendly crops as those crops have no need for irrigation. “We have been providing training and input support to farmers to help them farm four crops round the year,” he said, adding that the growers will cultivate mung dal after harvesting mustard.

An official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district said mustard was cultivated on 1,730 hectares of land with a target of producing 2,249 tonnes this year, while it was 1,615 hectares last year.

Lalmonirhat DAE Deputy Director Bidubhuson Roy said agriculture officials encourage farmers to grow environment-friendly crops, and they are also given training in this regard. Now farmers in the district are becoming aware of their role in saving underground water and agriculture, he added.