Relay system mustard cultivation gains popularity among farmers

Mustard farming by applying ‘relay system’ (without tilling) is gaining popularity among the growers as the system helps increase farming coverage at three upazilas in the district.

The system has been included into the cropping pattern as farming of three crops instead of two on the same land has been made possible.

In the current season, the mustard cultivation has covered 2,520 hectares of land at 13 unions in Sadar upazila, against 1,000 hectares in last year, said Narail Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer M Rokonuzzaman.

Almost every union including Birgram, Devogh, Chacra, Afra, Bashgram, Shahabad under the Sadar upazila has come under the mustard cultivation by using relay system, said the official.

On the other hand, the high yielding mustard variety like BARI Mustard-14 and BARI Mustard-17 and BINA Mustard-4 and BINA Mustard-9 are being cultivated abundantly by using the relay system as the system adopt by spreading seed on the paddy field before 10-15 days of Aman harvesting.

After harvesting of Aman, nurturing of the mustard crop begins when the seedlings of the mustard grew old, said the agriculturist.

The mustard crop cultivating with the relay system becomes matured within 80-84 days.

“I have cultivated mustard on 3 acres of land and I am hopeful that the output also will be much better”, said Rebanta Biswas, a farmer of Birgram village under Sadar upazila.

Another farmer of Gopalpur village Tuku Mia said, he has been cultivating mustard by using relay system for the last two years in order to cultivate three crops instead of two on the same crop land.

The agriculturists and the farmers are expecting bumper mustard production this year due to pleasant atmosphere for sowing seed and privilege of getting government incentives has contributed to increase farming.

The mustard cultivation has been increased in the district due to a rise in the demand of mustard oil, said the district agriculture extension sources.

The mustard has been cultivated on 13,350 hectares of land at three upazilas of the district against the overall cultivation target of 13,348 hectares.

But the overall mustard cultivation during this season was 462 hectares more compared to the last year. Mustard was cultivated on 12,888 hectares of land in last year.

The government has set a target to produce 17,993 metric tons of mustard this year, said Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Nipun Majumder.

The selling price of each maund (38.39 kgs) of Mustard is Taka 3,200-3,300. (BSS)