Summer Mug farming gains ground in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, May 25 (BSS): Farming of summer Mug bean has been gaining popularity in the region including its vast Barind Tract for the last couple of years.
The farmers are showing interest in farming Mug, as they are reaping higher economic benefit from the increased demand for this variety of pulse.
Apart from cultivation of winter 'Mug' dal, the acreage for summer Mug dal expanded significantly in the region, as the farmers are getting involved towards the farming due to its multifarious positive aspects.
Officials concerned said the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set the target of bringing 24,982 hectares of land under the cash crop farming in eight districts of the region.
But the farmers cultivated the crop on 26,268 hectares of land during the current season.
The topography and environment of Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogra and Joypurhat districts are very suitable for cultivation of this cash crop in summer.
Referring to various salient features of Mug dal production, they said vast lands remain fallow after harvesting potato, wheat and oilseed every year.
These unused lands are being brought under the Mug dal cultivation in phases, they added.
"No additional cost for fertiliser, pesticide and irrigation is needed to cultivate this sort-term cash crop, helping the farmers in saving additional production costs," said Senior Scientific Officer of Regional Wheat Research Station Dr Ilias Hossain.
He added that mug bean is a drought tolerant short duration crop which fitted in the drought-prone area's environment. So, the farmers are getting high yield and crop residue is added organic matter for soil health development, he pointed out.
To make the Mug dal cultivation popular and profitable at the growers' level, the On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) under Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has been conducting various programmes including farmers motivation and training, field demonstration and supplying necessary inputs like seed during the last couple of years.
Around 6,000 farmers were given necessary training on modern cultivation while 150 field days were arranged for another 9,576 growers under the plan.
Deputy Director of DAE Hazrat Ali said the cultivation of Mug dal has been playing a significant role in crop intensity and diversification.
Because, he said, the crop is short-term and it could be cultivated easily on the rice-based cropping pattern.