Godagari farmers see bright prospect in mustard cultivation

RAJSHAHI, Jan 3: The farmers of Godagari Upazila here are seeing bright prospect in mustard cultivation.
Now, the fields are full of mature mustard plants which are swaying with the wave of wind. The farmers are more interested as the mustard cultivation has brought good fortune to them.  
They achieved good profit by selling their produce during the last several years. This year they are going to achieve a bumper mustard production.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Godagari Upazila, around 6,140 hectares of land were brought under mustard cultivation this year, and it was 5,750 ha in the last year.
Now, the farmers are cultivating wheat, onion, garlic, lentil and different varieties of vegetables besides mustard as its cultivation has brought a remarkable change to the farmers' lives in the area. The main reasons behind the popularity of mustard cultivation here are its less cultivation cost and favourable weather in the upazila.
Meanwhile, many farmers here changed their lot by cultivating mustard on the Padma riverbank, and they are playing an important role to change the socio-economic condition of the area, the DAE sources added.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Abdul Khalek, a mustard farmer of Padma riverbank area in the upazila, said, "I cultivated Bari-14 variety of mustard in three bighas of land this year. I am expecting bumper production and fair market price of the produce."
"Mustard is not cultivated for only oil but also for fertiliser and fodder. If any natural disaster does not occur, I would be able to collect bumper mustard production this year," he added.
Kashem Mahmud, a mustard farmer of Dewanpara Union here, said, "I cultivated Toli-7 variety of hybrid mustard this season. The cost of mustard cultivation is less comparing to other crops. So this year, I cultivated mustard on two bighas of land. Besides, the price of mustard is fairly well compared to other crops."
Godagari Upazila Agricultural Officer (Acting) Mariam Ahmed said, "The farmers here have been cultivating mustard and getting bumper yield along with fair price in the last several years. Besides, a number of betel leaf farmers have become interested in mustard cultivation from this year."
"Most of the farmers here cultivated Bari-14 variety of mustard for bumper production this year. If all the favourable options persist, the farmers will be more interested in mustard cultivation in future," she added.