Harvest begins: Bumper mustard production likely in N-region

The farmers are expecting a bumper production of mustard seeds in the northern region during this 2013-2014 Rabi season as harvest of the oily crop continues with excellent yield rates, official sources said today.
Harvest of the crop has already been completed in the char lands on the river basins where the farmers have already transplanted Boro seedlings and the same continues in the main land areas.
With the arrival of the newly harvested mustard in the local markets, its prices fell down to Taka 1,500 per maund (40 kg) on an average against the price of Taka 2,000 per maund a month ago in the region, market sources said.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) had fixed a target of producing 3,02,824 tonnes of the oilseeds through bringing 2,52,353 hectares land under its cultivation this season in the region.
However, the framer have finally cultivated the crop in 2,49,178 hectares land, some 3,175 hectares less than the fixed farming target.
Harvesting of the mustard seeds began from the middle of January last and is expected to complete by the middle on the next month, the sources said adding that the yield rate achieved so far is excellent and over 1.20 tonne mustard seed per hectare.
Though the concerned agri-departments, different NGOs and banks took adequate steps and distributed quality seeds and agriculture loans among the farmers, the farming target of mustard fell little short due to crop diversification and many other reasons.
Talking to BSS today, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khandker M Mesbahul Islam told that adequate training, technical assistance, quality and high yielding variety mustard seeds, latest technologies and agri-loans were provided to the farmers this time.
Despite little shortfall in farming target, the farmers are expecting bumper production of the crop as they have mostly cultivated the high yielding variety mustard evolved by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) to get excellent yield rates, he said.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said the farmers have been showing more interests in farming mustard after getting repeated bumper production and excellent price in recent years.
BSS from Gaibandha adds: A bumper production of mustard has been achieved in all the seven upazilas of the district during the current Robi season. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target to cultivate quality mustard on 7,244 hectares of land.
Later, the cultivation target fixed by the department was exceeded and finally, a total of 7,820 hectares were brought under the farming with the production target of 7,820 tones of mustard.
Of the total land, some 750 hectares have been cultivated in Sadar Upazila, 540 in Sadullapur Upazila, 475 in Palashbari Upazila, 4400 in Gobindaganj Upazila, 480 in Sundarganj Upazila, 625 in Saghata Upazila and 550 in Fulchhari Upazila.
Crops production specialist of DAE Golam Mostafa said the cultivation of mustard had gained much popularity to the farmers of the district in recent years after getting repeated bumper production and better prices of the crop.
Easy cultivation process and lower production cost compared to other Rabi crops are the main reasons behind the popularity of mustard cultivation among the farmers in the district, he also said.
Meanwhile, the commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank also disbursed soft loan to the growers during the season to help boost production of the crop, bank sources said.
Jahedul Islam, a farmer of South Dhanghara area under Ballamjhar union of Sadar upazila, said Taka about 1200-1500 is needed to cultivate the crop on a bigha of land but it returns much profit. On an average 6 to 7 maunds of mustard is produced on the land during the middle period of Aman and Boro season.
Saddam Hossain Paban, a farmer of Goghat area under Kamarjani union of Sadar Upazila, said the farmers are happy as they are getting bumper production and fair prices against the crop this year.