RANGPUR, Jan 01: The farmers of eight districts under Rangpur division are optimistic about achieving a good yield of mustard during the current season.
Visiting different areas this FE correspondent found the mustard growers under the division in cheerful mood as they have been witnessing a congenial weather condition this year.
This made them hopeful about attaining a bountiful production of their produce this season.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, the department has set a target to cultivate mustard on around 86,079 hectares of land during this Rabi season in eight districts under the division.
The districts are: Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh.
Due to handsome profit and satisfactory yield, the peasants are getting more interested in the cultivation of the crop in recent years than the cultivation of some other crops, sources alleged.
Hafizur Rahman, a farmer of Dhumgara village at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur told The Financial Express that he cultivated the crop on 45 decimals of land during this season and the condition of its growth is excellent.
Smooth supply of water and other agri-inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides has boosted its cultivation, he also said.
"Cultivation of mustard is easier and less costly compared to other crops and we can get good profit from it. I cultivated mustard on my one bigha of land this season and I am expecting to get adequate yield of the produce Maminur, a farmer at Abirerpara village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district told the FE.
The DAE sources said sufficient water supply, quality seeds, agri-inputs and congenial weather condition enhanced mustard cultivation in the region this year, making the farmers optimistic of a good output of the crop.
Satisfactory price as well as growing demand has made the cultivators eager to cultivate it on a large scale in recent years, sources added.
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