Farmers in Jhenaidah continue mustard production as cash crop
JHENAIDAH: Flowering of mustard in a field at Khajura village under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila predicts bumper production . This picture was taken yesterday.
Jhenaidah Correspondent :
The farmers in six upazilas of the district have been continuing the mustard production like past year as the crop has been once again has been recognized as one of the important cash crop to them.
Further, the farmers have been giving importance on their health issues when the other edible oils were adulterated in the market.
The department of agriculture extension in Jhenaidah had set target to produce 12,000 tones of mustard seeds in the current season on 9,980 hectares of land in six upazilas. The figure was 9,985 hectares in past season.
Some farmers at Khajura village in Jhenaidah Sadar when contacted said, the farmers in the area were discouraged when they saw the price of the oil seeds went lower that incurred heavy loss for the farmers. The demand of the mustard oil was lower comparison to other edible oils like soya beaan oil, palm oil etc.
But the price of the mustard oil seeds started rising in the market, regained the courage of the farmers when some companies started packaging of mustard oil in container and pollythene packets to expand their local market.
Farmer Rahmat Ali in the village said, he brought his two bihas of land under the mustard farming in current winter season, as against the same area last year.
Rahmat Ali said, the mustard oil seeds have a potentiality for their families as they consume the oil as edible oil. As some dishonest edible oil traders have been doing brisk business making the same with adulterated ones, it became risk for the common consumers like him. Further, the oil is also used as an alternative of the skin of the family members during winter. Considering the situation he could not reduce the land of mustard, he said.
Farmer Akbar Ali of Brahimpur village in Sailkupa upazila when asked said, a farmer could earn Taka 4,000 from one bigha of land excluding al expenses, while the same land could ensure Taka 14,000 in a season. Many farmers like Akbar Ali had brought their land under mustard farming in the area, he added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture extension in Jhenaidah Shah Mohammad Akramul Haque when contacted had admitted the version of the mustard farmers.
He said, the farmers have been farming mustard on their lands to ensure pure edible oils for their families and mustard as a cash crop, when most of the edible oils like soya bean, palm oil were adulterated badly. It has become a direct threat to human life.
The deputy director said, the mustard oil has an impact in the society as most of the rural family members use mustard oil to keep their skin smooth round the year.
The oil was widely used for the nursing on the children, especially, for the newly born babies, he said.
For past few years the mustard oil has been exported in a number of countries, especially, the Bangladeshi people round the world for frying purposes. Income from the export from mustard help strengthen national economy, deputy director added.
The farmers in six upazilas of the district have been continuing the mustard production like past year as the crop has been once again has been recognized as one of the important cash crop to them.
Further, the farmers have been giving importance on their health issues when the other edible oils were adulterated in the market.
The department of agriculture extension in Jhenaidah had set target to produce 12,000 tones of mustard seeds in the current season on 9,980 hectares of land in six upazilas. The figure was 9,985 hectares in past season.
Some farmers at Khajura village in Jhenaidah Sadar when contacted said, the farmers in the area were discouraged when they saw the price of the oil seeds went lower that incurred heavy loss for the farmers. The demand of the mustard oil was lower comparison to other edible oils like soya beaan oil, palm oil etc.
But the price of the mustard oil seeds started rising in the market, regained the courage of the farmers when some companies started packaging of mustard oil in container and pollythene packets to expand their local market.
Farmer Rahmat Ali in the village said, he brought his two bihas of land under the mustard farming in current winter season, as against the same area last year.
Rahmat Ali said, the mustard oil seeds have a potentiality for their families as they consume the oil as edible oil. As some dishonest edible oil traders have been doing brisk business making the same with adulterated ones, it became risk for the common consumers like him. Further, the oil is also used as an alternative of the skin of the family members during winter. Considering the situation he could not reduce the land of mustard, he said.
Farmer Akbar Ali of Brahimpur village in Sailkupa upazila when asked said, a farmer could earn Taka 4,000 from one bigha of land excluding al expenses, while the same land could ensure Taka 14,000 in a season. Many farmers like Akbar Ali had brought their land under mustard farming in the area, he added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture extension in Jhenaidah Shah Mohammad Akramul Haque when contacted had admitted the version of the mustard farmers.
He said, the farmers have been farming mustard on their lands to ensure pure edible oils for their families and mustard as a cash crop, when most of the edible oils like soya bean, palm oil were adulterated badly. It has become a direct threat to human life.
The deputy director said, the mustard oil has an impact in the society as most of the rural family members use mustard oil to keep their skin smooth round the year.
The oil was widely used for the nursing on the children, especially, for the newly born babies, he said.
For past few years the mustard oil has been exported in a number of countries, especially, the Bangladeshi people round the world for frying purposes. Income from the export from mustard help strengthen national economy, deputy director added.