RANGPUR, Jan 7, 2023 (BSS) - After exceeding the fixed farming target of mustard, farmers are hoping to get its bumper output and lucrative market price in Rangpur agriculture region this season.

    Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the blooming mustard plants have given an alluring yellowish look to crop fields and nature amid good climatic conditions bringing a smile to farmers.  

    The DAE has fixed an all-time record target of producing 73,523 tonnes of mustard from 49,290 hectares of land for all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region during the current Rabi season.

    "Farmers have finally brought 52,552 hectares of land under mustard farming exceeding the farming target by 3,262 hectares of land or 6.62 percent," Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Mohammad Shah Alam told BSS.

    "The government has fixed the all-time record mustard production target this season aiming at attaining self-reliance on production of edible oils from locally produced oilseeds," he said.

    Earlier, farmers produced 57,370 tonnes of mustard by cultivating the crop on 39,290 hectares of land during the last 2021-2022 Rabi season and 51,542 tonnes of the oilseeds from 38,433 hectares of land during the previous 2020-2021 Rabi seasons in the region.

    Farmers are expected to exceed the fixed production target following cultivation of its high yielding varieties like 'Tori 7', BARI-9, BARI-14, BARI-15 and BINA-4 on more land this season.  

     The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and other agri-related organisations have extended assistance to farmers to make the extensive mustard cultivation program a success.  

    Earlier, the government through the DAE distributed quality mustard seeds and fertilisers as special incentives among small, marginal and flood-hit farmers to inspire them in expanding cultivation of mustard and producing more oil seeds.

    Farmers have cultivated mustard on the mainland and riverine char areas as well with huge enthusiasm after getting the special incentives this season.

    After getting better production with lucrative prices between Taka 3,500 and Taka 4,200 per mound (every 40-kg) last year, farmers have shown more interest in cultivation of the highly profitable crop this season.  

    
 Talking to BSS, Deputy Director (Leave Reserved) of the DAE at Khamarbari in Dhaka Agriculturist Abu Sayem said enthusiastic farmers have cultivated mustard both on the vast char areas and mainland after getting special incentives.

    "Blooming mustard plants are growing fabulously now, predicting a bumper production of the oilseeds and bringing more profits to farmers this season," he added.

    Farmers Mohsin Ali, Atikur Rahman, Sohel Rana and Iqbal Hossain of different villages in Rangpur said they are expecting bumper production of mustard with rewarding prices this season like last year.