New cropping pattern boosting mustard cultivation: Experts

RANGPUR, Feb 17 (BSS): Experts at a farmers' field day have said the farmers of the northern districts have been reaping more profits by boosting mustard cultivation in recent years adopting the new cropping pattern evolved by RDRS Bangladesh.
The new cropping pattern of "Short duration Aman rice- mustard or potato-mungbean- short duration Aus (pariza) rice" also enables farmers in getting four crops annually from the same land to improve their livelihoods enhancing crop intensification, they said.
They were addressing the farmers' field day organised by RDRS Bangladesh for harvesting of the high yielding variety (HYV) BARI Sorisha-14 mustard in village Melabar under Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari.
Additional Deputy Director (Crop) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for Nilphamari Aftab Hossain attended the field day as the chief guest and also inaugurated harvesting of the crop in the field of farmer Ramesh Chandra of the village.
With Programme Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh for Nilphamari district KM Rashedul Arefin in the chair, Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Rezaul Islam attended and addressed the occasion as the special guest.
More than 200 male and female farmers of the area, officials of the DAE and RDRS Bangladesh, local public representatives, local community leaders and journalists were present.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of the NGO Mamunur Rashid delivered welcome speech narrating the new cropping pattern to increase food production for attaining sustainable food security amid adverse climate change impacts.
The programme is being implemented to popularise the cropping pattern in association with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University under funding of Krishi Gobeshona Foundation with DAE assistance in Rangpur division since 2011.