A large number of farmers in Gopalganj have been cultivating Bangladesh Institute of nuclear Agriculture (BINA) Mustard-10 for a few years as it fetches them good profits.
Some of them have taken up the farming of this high-yielding variety of mustard on a commercial basis too due to its growing economic prospects, according to the farmers.
A total of 3,350 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation of BINA Mustard-10 this season with a production target of around 2,976 metric tonnes, said sources.
Md Sefaur Rahman, scientific officer of BINA of Gopinathpur, Gopalgonj told the FE that this variety has gained popularity in the district as it can be produced within a short time using minimum amount of fertilisers and pesticides.
Farmers can get at least five maunds of mustard from one bigha (33 decimal) of land sowing three kg of seeds, he added.
Lalchand Biswas (55), a farmer of Char-Mongalpur village, said, “I have cultivated BINA Mustard-10 on one bigha of land this season and am expecting to get about eight maunds of the crop.”
This variety of mustard is being sold at Tk 20,000 in the local market, Lalchand added.
Deputy Director at the local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office Samir Kuamr Gwashami said they have provided quality seeds, necessary inputs and training on the latest technologies for a good yield of the crop.