(BSS) - Around 6.46 lakh tonnes of mustard yield is expected to be harvested from around 3.89 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts under the Rajshahi division during the current Rabi season.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 3.06 lakh tonnes of mustard from 1.82 lakh hectares of land in four districts of Rajshahi Agricultural Zone, while another 3.40 lakh tonnes from 2.07 lakh hectares in four districts under Bogra Agricultural Zone.

At present, entire farming fields have started turning yellowish, creating an eye-catching look.

The DAE`s various initiatives and favourable climate conditions during this Rabi season have become a boon for mustard plants to grow well, predicting bumper production.

Dr Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of DAE, said landless and marginal farmers have also brought vast tracts of sandy char land under mustard cultivation this time in the Ganges basins, and the crops are growing well everywhere in the region.

Suitable climate conditions, high-yielding varieties, modern technologies and government initiatives were reasons for exceeding the targets of both acreage and yield this season, he said.

Various other research and development organizations such as the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and many NGOs have taken adequate steps in collaboration with other departments this season to achieve the fixed production targets.

Monimul Haque, 38, a farmer of Dhamila village under Godagari upazila, has brought six bighas of land under oilseed cultivation this season. He harvested 24 maunds from four bighas of land last year.

He said the easy cultivation process and lower production cost compared to other Rabi crops is also a reason behind the growing popularity of mustard farming in the region, including its vast Barind tract.

Another farmer of Golai village, Sazzad Hossain, 47, has cultivated mustard on 11 bighas of land this season after attaining 30 maunds from five bighas last year.

Mojibul Haque, 45, of Nandigram village under Durgapur upazila, said he cultivated mustard seed on two bighas of land last year and got six maunds per bigha.

He has brought three bighas under the cash crop this season and expects a good yield.
Rashidul Hassan, 48, another farmer of Kakonhat village, has become successful through cultivating the cash crop for the last couple of years.

This year, he cultivated the crop on four bighas of land.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Mariam Ahmed said the government has attached the highest priority to the agriculture sector, and field-level officials and researchers are reaching services to farmers` doorsteps.

She said farmers are expanding farming of high-yielding mustard varieties on a larger scale to get the desired output and supplement government initiatives to ensure food security.

The On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) of BARI has been working to make crop farming profitable through the extension of improved varieties and better management in the Barind area.

BARI has released 16 high-yielding mustard seed varieties, and two of those - BARI Sharisha-15 and Tari-7 - have become popular at the growers` level in the region.

Dr Shakhawat Hossain, Principal Scientific Officer of OFRD (Barind Centre), said more than 100 farmers were given improved mustard seed varieties and fertilizer for farming on around 120 bighas of land in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts this season.

He said mustard seed is a water-saving crop, and its expansion in the Barind area is important for reducing pressure on underground water.

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), the largest irrigation-providing state-owned entity in the 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, has also been working to promote less-water-consuming crops like mustard.

Talking to BSS on Saturday, BMDA Executive Director Tariqul Alam said mustard seed is a water-saving crop and its expansion in the Barind area is very important towards reducing pressure on underground water.