Mustard has been grown on about 13,295 hectares in Jhenaidah this season, and farmers are pleased with the crop. Because mustard costs less to grow than other crops, they are counting the days to a good profit. Golden mustard flowers now cover the district's wide fields, field after field turned yellow as far as the eye can see.

The district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers have grown mustard on a total of 13,295 hectares this season. With favourable weather, most fields in the district have yielded as hoped. Mustard cultivation has increased in the district because it is a short-duration crop, and it will help meet the district's demand for edible oil, the department said.

Mustard farmer Alamin Hossain of Miakundu village in the Sadar upazila said: "This crop costs very little to grow. After the boro rice harvest the land lies empty for about three months, and we grew mustard in that time. I have grown mustard on about 2 bighas. This time I will make Tk 10,000–12,000 profit a bigha."

Farmer Bashir Uddin said: "Growing mustard naturally increases soil fertility, and it gives us extra income. There is huge demand for mustard oil in the local market, which is why mustard cultivation is growing day by day."

According to the district DAE, a target of about 3,920 hectares was set for the Sadar upazila this season, and mustard was grown on about 3,896 hectares there.

Mustard was also grown on 1,981 hectares in Kaliganj upazila, 2,920 hectares in Shailkupa, 3,380 hectares in Harinakunda, 500 hectares in Kotchandpur and 594 hectares in Maheshpur upazila, which the district agriculture department said has met the overall target.

Md Kamruzzaman, deputy director of the district DAE, said: "There has been extensive mustard cultivation in Jhenaidah this season. Instead of leaving land fallow, farmers grew mustard and got a good yield, and they will make the profit they hoped for this time. The oil from mustard grown in the district will also help meet local demand for edible oil."

"We advised farmers in various ways to increase mustard cultivation, and ran motivation programmes including free distribution of fertiliser and seed. I hope mustard cultivation in the district will increase further next season," he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.