OUR CORRESPONDENTs
NAOGAON, Dec 26: Peasants in Manda upazila of the district are showing interest in mustard cultivation, disheartened by the lower prices of the other crops like paddy, wheat, maize etc.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said mustard was cultivated on some 5,090 hectares of land under fourteen unions of the upazila last year.
This year, farmers brought around 5,973 hectares of land under mustard cultivation.
Most of the farmers have cultivated the Tori-7, BARI Sarisha-14 and native varieties of mustard this season, the sources added.
One Asim Ghosh of Manda upazila informed he cultivated mustard on his 20 decimals of land this year.
"Watching the excellent growth of the mustard plants, I am expecting a bumper yield and fair price of the produce", he added.
Upazila agriculture officer Rakibul Hasan stated in spite of rainfall at the beginning of the current season, growers have put a vast tract of land under mustard cultivation.
Farmers are trying to make up the loss they incurred for falling price of paddy in the last Aman season, Mr Hasan added.
Our Tangail Correspondent adds: Mustard growers in the district are expecting an excellent production this season.
According to the DAE, around 41,507 hectares of land have been brought under the production of mustard in twelve upazilas of the district, though the target was 43,020 hectares. Around 59,570 tonnes of production are expected.
The DAE officials said growers are hopeful of getting a bumper production amid a favourable weather.
During a visit to different areas of the district this correspondent found that the growers are busy taking care of their cropland.
Khorshed Alam of Mamudpur village under Delduar upazila said mustard is an important crop in the Rabi season. It is a profitable crop. Mustard has a great demand in the market and it sells at a good price.
He said growers in the area cultivate the oil-seed on a vast tract of land.
Some farmers said the cultivators who do not get good prices of their paddy are generally showing interest in growing mustard in the winter.
Sub-assistant agriculture officer of Tangail DAE Nargis Akhter said mustard cultivation is expanding across the district as the growers found it more profitable.
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