Mustard has been grown across wide areas of Rajbari, and the yellow flowers have dressed the countryside in rare beauty. Nature lovers are coming constantly to the bank of the Murarikhola branch of the Padma at Ratandia in Kalukhali to enjoy the flowers and spend special moments there. Many are capturing the scene on cameras and mobile phones.

Because mustard pays much more than it costs, the area under it has grown this year. However, growers fear a lower yield because there are no bees. Mustard flowers now adorn the fields of every upazila in the district, including Ratandia Murarikhola and Harinbaria in Kalukhali. Mustard is several times more profitable than its cost, so the area is increasing day by day.

According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the target this year was 6,500 hectares, but mustard has been grown on about 6,600 hectares. Last year it was grown on 5,400 hectares.

Visitors Shamim and Enamul said: "We are not professional photographers; we take photos as a hobby. We came with friends and brothers to capture this beautiful scene as a memory. It feels very good, and the pictures are turning out well."

Nature lovers Mintu Hasan, Tanvir and Mehrab Hossain said: "We came to see the yellow mustard flowers across the fields. It is a very beautiful place, and a bamboo bridge adds to the natural beauty here."

Mustard growers Abdur Razzak Khan, Subal Chandra Pramanik and Jindar Kha said: "A lot of mustard grows here. This time the cost was a little higher than in other years. There are plenty of flowers, but because there are no bees the yield will not be good. People come to see the mustard flowers, walk around and take pictures. We like it."

Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director of the DAE in Rajbari, said: "We are working to increase mustard cultivation in Rajbari. As the weather has been favourable so far, we expect a bumper yield. Mustard also suffers little from disease."

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