Agriculture plays a crucial role in the economy and food security of Bangladesh. Oilseed crops such as groundnut, soybean, mustard, and sesame are particularly important because they supply edible oil, which is an essential component of the daily diet. Due to rapid population growth and changing food consumption patterns, the demand for edible oil in Bangladesh has been increasing steadily. It is projected that by 2030 the national demand for edible oil will reach about 3.9 million metric tons.
At present, the annual requirement of edible oil in the country is approximately 22-24 lakh metric tons. However, domestic production from oilseed crops such as mustard, sesame, and sunflower can meet only 12.5-13% of this demand. As a result, Bangladesh remains highly dependent on imports to meet the remaining demand, which requires spending about 25,000-28,000 crore taka in foreign exchange every year. Increasing domestic oilseed production has therefore become a national priority.
Among the oilseed crops, mustard is the most important in Bangladesh, occupying nearly 80% of the total oilseed cultivation area. To increase production and improve productivity, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has developed several improved mustard varieties. Among them, BARI Sarisa-14 has become widely popular among farmers due to its short duration, high yield potential, and compatibility with the existing rice-based cropping system. This variety was released in 2006 and is considered particularly suitable for cultivation during the short interval between two rice crops.
BARI Sarisa-14 is a high-yielding and short-duration variety with several desirable agronomic characteristics. The plants generally grow 80-90 cm in height and produce 4-5 primary branches per plant. The crop matures within 75-80 days, making it ideal for cultivation in the gap between Aman and Boro rice. Under proper management practices, the variety can produce an average yield of about 1.40-1.60 t ha?¹, and the seeds contain 50-60% oil, which makes it highly valuable for edible oil production.
In the Cox's Bazar region, particularly in Chokoria and Pekuaupazilas, BARI Sarisa-14 has shown great potential for expanding mustard cultivation. Previously, farmers in these areas mainly depended on rice-based cropping systems and rarely cultivated mustarddue to the long duration of traditional mustard varieties. After harvesting Aman rice, farmers typically prepared their land for Boro rice cultivation, leaving a short period when the land often remained unused or underutilized. This situation created an opportunity to introduce a short-duration oilseed crop that could be grown during the interval between the two rice seasons.
To address the increasing demand for edible oil and promote better land utilization, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) implemented a structured intervention program aimed at encouraging farmers to cultivate BARI Sarisa-14 during the Aman-Boro gap period. The program focused on building farmers' knowledge and practical skills related to mustard cultivation. Farmers were provided with hands-on training on seed sowing, crop management practices, fertilizer application, pest management, and harvesting techniques.
These training sessions helped farmers understand the agronomic requirements of the crop and increased their confidence in adopting the new technology. Following the training, BARI further supported farmers by supplying quality seeds of BARI Sarisa-14, fertilizers, and essential farming equipment. This support played an important role in reducing the initial production risks faced by farmers and encouraged wider participation in the program. The initiative also included large-scale field demonstrations, which allowed farmers to observe the performance of the crop directly under local field conditions.
The demonstration program covered approximately 1,400 bigha of land and involved around 600 farmers in the Chokoria and Pekuaupazilas of Cox's Bazar. The successful implementation of these demonstrations clearly indicated strong farmer acceptance and the practical feasibility of BARI Sarisa-14 cultivation in the region. Farmers were able to harvest the mustard crop within 75-80 days, after which they could still prepare their land in time for Boro rice cultivation without disrupting the existing cropping calendar.
As a result, the introduction of BARI Sarisa-14 has significantly improved the productivity of the rice-based cropping system in these areas. By utilizing the previously unused gap between Aman and Boro rice, farmers are now able to cultivate an additional crop, increase their overall farm income, and make more efficient use of agricultural land. Moreover, the expansion of mustard cultivation contributes to enhancing domestic edible oil production, which can help reduce Bangladesh's dependence on costly imports. Therefore, the adoption of BARI Sarisa-14 in Chokoria and Pekuaupazilas represents an important step toward improving agricultural productivity, farmer livelihoods, and national edible oil security.
The writer is Senior Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
