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Mustard cultivation has increased in different districts of the country this season to earn profits as edible oil prices have marked a sharp rise in local markets.
Our correspondent from Gaibandha reports that farmers grow mustard every year along with different crops in this district.
Farmers expect a bumper mustard production this season than that of other seasons.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gaibandha, mustard has been cultivated on 16,554 hectares of land this season - an increase of 1,354 hectares than that of last year.
Some 1,730 hectares of land has been brought into mustard cultivation in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila while 612 hectares in Phulchari Upazila, 2,280 hectares in Saghata Upazila, 2,120 hectares in Sadullapur Upazila, 1,030 hectares in Palashbari Upazila, 2,629 hectares in Sundarganj Upazila and 6,153 hectares in Gobindganj Upazila.
Farmers grow mustard every year as an additional crop before planting IRRI-boro paddy.
Farmers are very interested in mustard cultivation which does not require much care or expense.
The farmers of Gaibandha now expect a bumper yield and more profit at a low cost.
Harish Chandra of Goailbari village of Sadar Upazila told the Financial Express, "I have cultivated mustard on 2 bighas of land this time."
Local DAE Deputy Director Md Khorshed Alam told the Financial Express that mustard has been cultivated on 16,554 hectares of land this season.
Farmers grow mustard as an additional crop before the farming of Boro paddy.
"To increase farmers' interest in mustard cultivation, we've provided seeds and fertilisers."
Our Pabna correspondent says local farmers are turning to the cultivation of mustard which is regarded as a cash crop.
As many as 45,043 hectares of land have been brought into mustard cultivation in the district, with a production target set at 66,162 tonnes.
This season, farmers have cultivated mustard on a large scale and now expect a bumper production and huge profit.
Mustard cultivation is particularly popular in the vast char areas on the Padma-Jamuna riverbanks.
According to the DAE, mustard has been cultivated on 45,043 hectares of land this season and production target set at 66,162 tonnes.
Agriculture officials said that most farmers have been given 1 kg of mustard seeds, 10 kg of DAP fertiliser and 10 kg of MOP fertiliser as incentives.
In addition, all farmers have been given 1 kg of mustard seeds. In addition, farmers have been given mustard exhibition and equipment support.
Many farmers said that this year they have cultivated mustard twofold. Mustard plants are now in full bloom.
A farmer, Aftab Uddin, said, "I have cultivated mustard on about 3 bighas of land this season. I hope that I will earn at least Tk 20,000 per bigha."
Ashraf Ali, a sharecropper from Charnagda village, told the FE, "We have cultivated three types of mustard on four bighas of land. The field is in full bloom.
If weather remains good, we will get a bumper mustard yield. We will earn Tk 15-20,000 per bigha.
Pabna Sadar Upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Ashikur Rahman told the FE, "Mustard cultivation has increased this year than that of last year. Mustard fields are now in full bloom."
Farmers are being regularly advised to increase yield and control pest attacks.
Dr Jamal Uddin, deputy director of the DAE, told The Financial Express, "A large quantity of edible oil is imported into our country from abroad. Farmers are being encouraged to cultivate mustard to reduce this import dependence."
The agriculture official further said that one-fourth of the total mustard requirement in the country is produced in Pabna region.