Sapahar farmers hopeful of bumper mustard yield

SAPAHAR, NAOGAON, Feb 5:  Farmers in Sapahar Upazila of Naogaon are expecting a bumper mustard harvest this season as favourable weather and healthy crop conditions have boosted production prospects across the area.

Fields throughout the upazila are now covered with blooming mustard flowers, creating a vast expanse of yellow. According to farmers, most mustard plants have already started bearing seeds, and no major pest attacks or crop diseases have been reported so far.

Sapahar, part of the Barind tract, is known for its comparatively good soil quality, which supports the cultivation of various crops. Mustard is a major Rabi season crop in the upazila, and this year cultivation has expanded across almost all suitable farmlands.

During visits to major mustard-growing areas, including Hapania and Krishnasada villages along the Punarbhaba River basin, extensive mustard fields were seen thriving. Farmers said favourable temperatures and timely winds have contributed to healthy crop growth. Honeybees were also observed collecting nectar from the flowers, which farmers believe is a positive sign for pollination and yield.

Local farmer Ibrahim of Krishnasada Village said he cultivated mustard on 18 bighas of land this year. He said good prices and favourable weather last year encouraged him to invest in mustard cultivation again. "So far, the crop condition is good. If the weather remains stable, production will be higher than expected," he said.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Agronomist Shapla Khatun said, mustard has been cultivated on about 3,710 hectares of land in Sapahar this season. She said the production target has been fixed at 1.5 metric tons per hectare.

She added that the Department of Agricultural Extension is providing regular technical support to farmers to ensure higher yields. Government incentives have also been distributed among mustard growers, she said.