BARI-17 mustard cultivation gets a boost in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Jan 22: The cultivation of new BARI-17 mustard variety has raised a high hope for huge profits among farmers of Borni Union under Tungipara Upazila in the district this year.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gopalganj, a total of 5,038 hectares of land have been brought into the mustard cultivation in the district, sources said.

BARI-17 mustard has been cultivated on nearly 4,455 hectares of land for the first time in the union.

Md Alim Sheikh (31), a farmer of village Munshirchar in Tungipara upazila, said he has cultivated BARI-17 mustard on 33 decimals of land at a cost of Tk 10,500.

"If the climate remains favourable, I will get good profit," he expected.

One maund (40kg) of mustard is being sold at Tk 3,200 to Tk 3,500, Alim also says.

Sabuj Golder, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO), Borni under Tungipara, said BARI-17 mustard is a farmer-friendly crop because farmers can harvest it only 80 to 85 days after its cultivation.

So, most farmers of this region have cultivated this variety of mustard this season, he said, adding: "This mustard's production cost is less but profit is high."

As many as 95 hectares of land have been brought into this mustard variety of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) in Borni Union this year. About 1,900 farmers are engaged in the farming here, Mr Sabuj said.

Hussain Fakir (28), another farmer of Gimandanga village of Patgati union under Tungipara upazila, said he has cultivated this mustard variety on 33 decimals of land this winter season.

Its growth is satisfactory. If the weather condition remains favourable, I will get 06 maunds of mustard from my land. Its market price is about Tk 20,500 and its production cost is Tk 10,500, he also said.

Md Rakibul Islam, an upazila agriculture officer in Tungipara, said a total of 350 hectares of land have been brought into BARI-17 mustard farming this season.

He further said the production target of mustard has been fixed at 525 tonnes. This mustard variety is a profitable oil crop.

Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director at the DAE in Gopalganj, told the FE that BARI-17 mustard is a high yielding variety oil crop, so its farming in on the rise.

Nearly 125,000 farmers are involved in this mustard farming in the district, he mentions.