Bagerhat Correspondent :
The fields in Fakirhat Upazila under Bagerhat district are covered with yellow flowers of early mustard.
Farmers are dreaming of additional profits by cultivating mustard without tillage and using relay method before harvesting Aman paddy.
Farmers are hoping for a bumper harvest this season with the support, incentives and favorable weather of the Agriculture Department.
Visiting various fields, we saw the buzzing of bees and the busy walking of farmers in mustard fields full of yellow flowers.
This oilseed crop, which can be cultivated in a relatively short time and at low cost between the cultivation of Aman and Boro paddy, has now become an important source of additional income for farmers.
The flower show across the fields is already indicating a good harvest, which has created promising prospects for the rural economy.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Extension Department, mustard was cultivated on 163.5 hectares of land in Fakirhat last year. The cultivation target for the current season has been increased to 180 hectares.
The total production target has been set at 216 metric tons, assuming an average production of 1.2 tons per hectare.
However, considering the current condition of the field, farmers and agriculture-Officials are hoping that this time the production will be more than the target.
Government incentives play an important role in expanding mustard cultivation. 1 kg of mustard seeds, 10 kg of DAP and 10 kg of potash fertilizer have been distributed free of cost to 300 farmers in the upazila.
In addition, 210 more farmers have been given free seed assistance and 40 farmers have been given seeds, chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers and pesticides.
Notable varieties cultivated in the current season include Bari Sarisha-14, Bari Sarisha-17, Bari Sarisha-20, Bina Sarisha-9 and Bina Sarisha-11.
Farmers Jasim Sheikh, Mithun Das and Tapan Das from different blocks of Fakirhat said that cultivating the same crop repeatedly on the same land reduces the fertility of the land.
On the advice of the agricultural office, they have started cultivating mustard between Aman and Boro paddy.
This maintains the fertility of the soil, while also making it possible to raise additional crops with less labour and less cost.
Farmers Paresh Das and Sudhangshu Das of Betaga village said that they sowed mustard seeds in the land without tilling it even when there was Aman rice. That mustard had already flowered.
While other farmers were starting to cultivate the land, mustard flowers and yields had started forming in their fields.
After harvesting the mustard in advance, they will cultivate Boro paddy again in the same land.
This will not only provide an additional crop a year, but will also reduce the cost of additional cultivation, fertilizer and medicine.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Bipul Majumdar said, farmers are being regularly advised to cultivate mustard without tillage as it is more profitable.
Other farmers are also getting motivated by seeing those who have succeeded in cultivating this method.
Upazila Agriculture Officer and Agriculturist Sheikh Sakhawat Hossain said, mustard is now a profitable intermediate crop for farmers.
The chances of a good harvest this time are very high as the weather is favorable. Interest among farmers has increased due to good prices in recent years.
