A winter breeze is blowing across the countryside, and the area is already covered in yellow mustard flowers. This eye-catching sea of yellow has dressed nature in stunning colour, and bees hum from flower to flower collecting nectar.

Such scenes can be seen in Araihazar, Bandar and Sonargaon in Narayanganj. Farmers also see the prospect of a good yield this time; if nature does not turn hostile, they hope for a bumper crop.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), most mustard in Narayanganj district is grown in Araihazar, Sonargaon and Rupganj upazilas. Azgar Ali, a farmer from Ramchandradi in Araihazar's Bishnandi union, said: "Last year I grew mustard on a small amount of land. This year I have grown it on about 2 bighas. There is a chance of a good yield this time."

Farmer Kabir Hossain said: "I have grown mustard on 150 katha of land. So far the signs are good. If it doesn't rain, I can make a good profit this time. You could say there will be a bumper mustard yield this year."

Tofazzal Hossain of Sabdi in Bandar said: "I grew mustard on leased land. I hope to make a good profit this time. The yield will be good as long as conditions stay favourable."

Araihazar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Rasel Mia said: "Mustard has done well this time. It has been grown on 3,680 acres in Araihazar. Mustard farming is rising this year compared with other years."

AJM Ahsan Shahid Sarkar, deputy director of the DAE in Narayanganj, said: "Mustard is grown almost everywhere in Narayanganj, but most of it is in Rupganj and Araihazar. This time it has been grown on 2,716 hectares in Narayanganj."

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