Mustard growers eye bumper yield
About 8,305 hectares in 9 Faridpur upazilas have been brought under mustard cultivation this year
Faridpur farmers are expecting a bumper production of mustard in the current season due to favourable weather.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur, about 8,305 hectares of land in nine upazilas have been brought under mustard cultivation this year, compared to 8,040 hectares last year.
Faridpur DAE Deputy Director Kartik Chandra Chakraborty said they are expecting bumper mustard yield due to favourable weather this season.
Besides, coming of more honey bees in mustard fields during the pollination period helped healthy fertilisation and pod formation of the crop, he said.
Low production cost and easy cultivation process compared to other Rabi crops is also a reason behind popularity of mustard cultivation among the farmers in the district, said Kartik Chandra.
October to mid-November is the suitable time for mustard cultivation and it takes 65/70 days to get the yield, said the DAE official.
This correspondent recently visited Sadar, Nagarkanda and Sadarpur upazilas and farmers in the areas said they are hopeful of getting bumper production of mustard this year and harvest will begin in third or fourth week of next month.
Ripon Khan, a farmer of Purba Aliabad village in Sadar upazila, said “I have cultivated mustard on one and half bigha of land spending Tk 8,000. I hope I will get at least nine maunds of mustard. I will sell each maund of mustard for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000.”
Kutishawer Roy, a farmer of the same village, said he has cultivated mustard on two bighas of land after the floodwater receded there.
“Mustard cultivation is easier and less costly compared to other crops. I hope I will get 12 maunds of mustard this year,” said Kutishawer.
Another grower Sheikh Sayed of Aliabad area said he cultivated mustard on one bigha of land last year and got a profit of Tk 6,000.
He has cultivated mustard on two bighas of land this year, said Sayed.
Omar Faruk, chairman of Aliabad Union Parishad, said mustard cultivation is increasing day by day in their union as it brings good profit.