RANGPUR, Dec 15, 2017 (BSS) – The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 52,683 tonnes of mustard from 40,525 hectares of land in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region during this Rabi season.
The DAE officials said farmers have so far brought 30,205 hectares of land, 74.53 percent against the fixed cultivation target, under farming of the oilseed till yesterday in the region.
Talking to BSS today, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khondker Md. Mesbahul Islam at its regional office here said that sowing of mustard seed continues in full swing now and the process will continue till third week of the current month.
The farmers have so far sowed mustard seed in 5,300 hectares of land in Rangpur, 6,990 hectares in Gaibandha, 12,010 hectares in Kurigram, 1,795 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 4,110 hectares of land in Lalmonirhat districts under the region.
“The farmers have already cultivated ‘Tori 7’ variety of mustard in 9,662 hectares of land, BARI-9 in 2,280 hectares, BARI-14 in 13,597 hectares, BARI- 15 in 8,277 hectares, BINA-4 in 330 hectares and other varieties in 59 hectares of land in the region.
“The DAE and other agriculture-related departments, research institutions, NGOs and banks are extending assistance to the framers to make the fixed mustard cultivation programme successful in the region this season,” said Mesbahul Islam.
Deputy Director of DAE at its regional office here Md Moniruzzaman said the farmers have already completed sowing of mustard seed in vast char areas on the river basins though the process continues in the mainland.
Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam said the farmers are showing interests in increasing mustard cultivation and necessary assistance and technologies are being provided to them to make the mustard farming programme successful.