In Sharsha upazila of Jashore, crop fields are covered with yellow mustard flowers, alive with swarms of bees. As the flowers sway across the fields, smiles of joy light up farmers' faces. As far as the eye can see there is only yellow, less a crop field than a farmer's kingdom of dreams.

There was a time when farmers, facing continuous losses, were turning away from mustard. Now they are dreaming of a bumper harvest. Because improved mustard varieties fetched good prices in the local market last year, they are more interested in growing it this year too, and the yields of high-yielding varieties they received free of charge are adding to their satisfaction.

The upazila agriculture office said mustard was grown on about 5,929 hectares in Sharsha last year, producing 8,929 tonnes, or 1.51 tonnes a hectare. This year, farmers have been greatly encouraged by the agriculture department's initiatives. The target for this year is 6,502 hectares, and so far mustard has been sown on 6,502 hectares. Many are still sowing, so cultivation is expected to exceed the target.

Mustard cultivation has therefore increased in the upazila this year, and farmers hope for a bumper yield if the weather stays favourable. With good mustard prices in the local market last year, more than 1,000 farmers in the upazila have grown it this time, and farmers are expected to become even more interested in this variety in future. But growing only rice will not do; importance has also been given to maize, mustard, potato, sunflower, jute, sesame and other crops.

With the agriculture department's support and favourable weather, farmers hope for good yields and good prices. To reduce dependence on edible oil imports, the upazila agriculture office is considering increasing cultivation in future with the department's help.

Visits to mustard fields across the upazila showed that, on the agriculture department's advice, several farmers in every union, including Sharsha, Bagachra, Benapole, Putkhali, Bahadurpur, Nizampur, Dihi and Lakshmanpur, have grown high-yielding mustard on 5 to 6 bighas each.

Jahangir Alam, a farmer from Shyamlagachhi village who has grown BARI-14 and BINA-9-10 varieties on 2 bighas this year, said: "Growing mustard costs about Tk 5,000 a bigha. Demand in the market is good and so are the prices. The plants, flowers and pods are good now. I hope for a bumper yield and to make a profit like last year."

Abul Hossain, a farmer from Balunda village, said: "I grow mustard every season because demand is good and the risk of loss is low. I hope for good prices again this time. If prices are right this year, many more will turn to mustard next year."

Nazrul Islam, a farmer from the Narayanpur area of Benapole, said: "Because BARI-14 plants are tall, their leaves fall to the ground and act as organic fertiliser. After growing this variety, the Boro crop on the same land also needs less fertiliser. On the agriculture department's advice, I have grown improved mustard on 2 bighas this time."

Nazmul Biswas of Goga village said: "This year I collected BARI-14 seed from the upazila agriculture office for new mustard cultivation and planted it on 2 acres. Compared with last year, the plants and flowers show the yield will double this year, and prices will be higher too. So I sowed mustard right after harvesting the aman paddy."

Upazila agriculture officer Dipak Kumar Saha told Jagonews: "Farmers are being given proper advice and guidance on crop care. This season BARI-8, BARI-14, BARI-17, BARI-18, BINA-4 and BINA-9 seed has been supplied and distributed in the upazila. Mustard gives a harvest just 75-80 days after sowing. Farmers are more interested because of good prices last year. With the weather favourable, there is a good chance of a good crop this year."

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