United News of Bangladesh

Vast stretches of mustard fields across Sirajganj have burst into radiant shades of yellow, turning the district into a rolling sea of gold and offering a visual feast that is delighting visitors and farmers alike. From late afternoon until dusk, the flowering fields have become a magnet for people of all ages. Youths, women and men are seen wandering through the blossoms, pausing to admire the view, capturing selfies against the glowing backdrop of nature’s seasonal spectacle. The golden transformation is most striking in Tarash, Raiganj, Ullapara and the char areas—long known as the district’s ‘granary’—where mustard flowers sway gently in the winter breeze, painting the countryside with warmth and colour. Read more: Golden Harvest: Sirajganj farmers reap bumper mustard crop According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a cultivation target of 87,125 hectares was set for mustard farming across Sirajganj’s nine upazilas this season. Farmers, however, have gone beyond expectations, bringing even more land under cultivation and raising hopes of a bumper harvest. Mustard farming has expanded notably in the Chalan Beel areas, particularly in Tarash, Raiganj, Ullapara and Shahjadpur upazilas. Significant cultivation has also been recorded in Kamarkhanda, Kazipur, Belkuchi and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas, reflecting a district-wide surge in production. Among the commonly cultivated varieties are Tori-7, BARI-14, Beena-9 and Beena-14. In the char areas, farmers have opted for the uric acid-free Kalania variety, well-suited to the region’s soil and conditions. Read more: Chapainawabganj farmer sparks local excitement with amazing Chinese orange harvest Local farmers said government incentives have played a crucial role in encouraging cultivation. Seeds and fertilisers were distributed at fixed rates, while agricultural officers provided regular guidance and technical advice to ensure better yields. With favourable weather prevailing, farmers remain optimistic about achieving a bumper output this season. Adding to the vibrancy of the fields, honey collectors from different areas have already installed bee boxes among the mustard crops. Harvesting of mustard flower honey has begun, and collectors expect production to surpass last year’s levels due to the increased acreage under cultivation. Deputy Director of the DAE, AKM Manjur-e-Maula, said farmers had brought more land under mustard cultivation this year compared to the previous season. “We distributed free seeds and fertilisers among small and marginal farmers and provided necessary advice. If the weather remains favourable, there is a strong possibility of a bumper mustard harvest this season,” he said. As Sirajganj’s fields glow under winter skies, the mustard bloom stands not only as a scenic delight but also as a symbol of agricultural promise and rural resilience. Read more: Khulna farmers reap rewards from mustard cultivation, honey production

Watermelon growers in south-western Khulna district are staring at losses due to abnormally low price despite a bumper production of the summer fruit. Rather than looking for profit the growers are now worried about a recovery of their production cost. They are partly blaming a nexus of middle traders for their price woes. The syndicate, they complain, buys the fruit at a very low price to sell in the city markers with high profit margin. The shunning of middlemen is not as easy as it may look. In interviews with some growers it was found that they are to pay Tk 15,000-25,000 each to hire a truck for transporting watermelons besides paying the loaders. Most growers can’t afford the cost. The price of watermelons dropped significantly after the month of Ramadan and the selling of mouth-watering thirst-quenching fruit is low in the local markets. To recoup losses, a few were seen taking their produce to Dhaka and Khulna cities but failed to get desired prices. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension, Khulna, farmers this year cultivated watermelons on 13,990 hectares of land. Of these, 7,625 hectares are in Dakope upazila, 3,600 hectares in Batiaghata, 1,510 hectares in Paikgachcha, 895 hectares in Koyra, 350 hectares in Dumuria, five hectares in Rupsha, three hectares in Terokhada, one hectare each in Phultala and Metropolitan areas of the district. Also read: Corona shutdown: Khulna farmers in distress with bumper yield of watermelon In 2021, a total of 7,512 hectares of land were brought under watermelon cultivation and as the watermelon cultivation proved to be profitable, the farmers expanded their cultivation. An estimated 4.15 lakh tonnes of watermelon have been produced in the district this year. Abu Syed, a watermelon grower, said “I have brought 10 bighas of land under cultivation and most of the watermelon lying on my lands. One piece of watermelon, weighing 5-10 kg is being sold at Tk 10-20  but in the local market the same watermelon is being sold at Tk 30-40 per kg.” Quamrul Islam, another farmer, said “I have cultivated watermelons on my ten bighas of land and now I have no idea what to do with these. If I want to take these to Dhaka with my own cost, I have to pay Tk 25000-30,000 more as transport cost. I am I won’t get back one-fourth of the production cost.” Babul Sheikh, another farmer of Choto Chalna, said “I have brought five bighas of land under watermelon cultivation and still I cannot sell my products due to the poor price. No traders have shown interest to purchase my crop from the field. Now all my watermelon is rotting.” Utpal Sana, a farmer of Banishanta, said Tk 30,000 to 35,000 is needed to cultivate one bigha of the land but the traders refuse to pay us more than Tk 20,000. The farmers of Choto Chalna, Pankholi, Moukhali and Tildanga areas are facing the same problems. The farmers are now searching for markets in Dhaka, Bogura, Chattogram and Rajshahi to sell their products.