Satisfactory mustard-seed output expected in Rajshahi region

RAJSHAHI, Feb 6 (BSS): The farmers and officials concerned are predicting a satisfactory production of mustard following various government steps and favourable climatic conditions in the region this Rabi season.
According to the sources concerned, the cash crop has now grown well everywhere in the region including its vast Barind tract predicting bumper productions.
More farmers are being encouraged to cultivate the crop as they got excellent yield and market price during the last harvesting season as most of the big corporate organisations manufacturing mustard oil after procuring mustard seed from the farmers directly.
Farmers have started harvesting and they are getting expected yield. They will bring most of the same land under Boro farming after completion of harvests of the crop, farmers and officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said here today. The DAE has set a target of bringing 1,77,885 hectares of land in eight districts of the region during the current season but the farmers cultivated the crop on 1,74,951 hectares of land.
Besides the DAE, various other research and development organisations like BARI, BARC, BADC and many NGOs have taken adequate steps in collaboration with other departments this season to achieve the fixed production targets.
BARI has released 16 high yielding mustard seeds and two of those-BARI Sharisha- 15 and 16 and Tari-7 have become popular among the growers' level, particularly in barind tract comprising 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj and Naogaon districts.
The DAE and NGOs have provided quality seeds, necessary inputs and trainings on the latest technologies to make the programme successful. The landless and marginal farmers have also brought vast tracts of the sandy char lands under mustard cultivation his time in the Ganges basins and the crops are growing excellent everywhere now in the region.