On the Gobra road in Narail Sadar upazila, the wide fields of Karar Beel come into view, yellow as far as the eye can see. Mustard flowers have coloured the fields, glinting in the golden winter sun, while the hum of bees fills the air and the plants sway in the gentle breeze. Among the flowers, signs of ripening pods are showing, bringing smiles of satisfaction to farmers' faces.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), mustard has been grown on 13,487 hectares in the district this season, with a production target of 19,286 tonnes. Land lies fallow after the Aman rice harvest, and farmers are growing mustard on it as an extra crop in the hope of profit.

Nipen Kartik Roy, a mustard farmer from Dhopakhola village, said: "This season I have grown mustard on 2 acres using the relay method. The field is full of flowers and the mustard has ripened on the plants. I am busy looking after the field."

Sujit of Nunkhir village said: "On the agriculture office's advice, I have grown mustard by relay with Aman rice. If the weather stays favourable, the yield will be good."

Rintu Biswas, a mustard farmer from Mushuria village, said: "This year I have grown mustard on 1 acre. Looking at the flowers, the yield should be good. I hope to meet my family's oil needs and sell mustard in the market too."

Visitors are constantly flocking with friends to the Gobra Kakrar Beel to see the beauty of the mustard flowers and hear the bees. Some take photos, others record the yellow fields on their phones.

Kripa Biswas, who came with friends, said: "I was passing by on the road, saw the fields full of mustard flowers and came to make a video. It is lovely to see the mustard fields with friends."

Md Roknuzzaman, Narail Sadar upazila agriculture officer, said: "The agriculture office is giving technical support for relay mustard cultivation. Land that used to grow two crops has been turned into triple-crop land by growing mustard by relay with Aman rice. Farmers are profiting financially from this."

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