In Faridpur, a significant increase in mustard cultivation has been reported, with the area under mustard crops expanding by over 2,000 hectares from the previous season. This expansion anticipates a high-yield output valued at an impressive Tk 151.38 crore. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur has noted that mustard now spans 14,842 hectares, targeting a yield of 1,360 kg per hectare. Given the current market rate, which surpasses Tk 3,000 per maund, the district's projected earnings are substantial. Govt initiative to reduce edible oil imports: Jashore’s mustard farmers anticipate exceptional harvest Anwar Hossain, the Agriculture Officer of Faridpur Sadar upazila, attributes this growth to the rising prices of edible oils. He observed that mustard cultivation has become a preferred choice in nearly all fields across the district’s nine upazilas. “Farmers are increasingly turning to mustard due to its lower maintenance, availability of resources like fertilizers and medicines, and encouraging government policies,” said Hossain. The district has seen the cultivation of various mustard varieties, including BARI-14, 15, 16, 17, Bina-4, 8, 9, and Tori-7. This diversification, coupled with the growing demand for pure mustard oil, has led farmers to focus on high-yielding strains. Local farmers, Ibrahim Mollah and Rahim Matabbar from Ambikapur, highlighted the advice from the Department of Agriculture to plant an additional crop before the boro paddy season. This strategy maximizes the use of fields and aligns with the mustard’s shorter growth period of just 80-90 days. Farmers expect bumper mustard yield in Khulna The cost of cultivating mustard ranges from Tk 7,000 to Tk 8,000 per bigha, with the potential to yield 5-6 maunds of seeds per bigha, especially under favorable weather conditions. This efficient production cycle and promising market rates are driving Faridpur’s agricultural sector towards a robust mustard season.

Mango growers and traders in the western district of Chuadanga have been left disappointed as the prices of their produces are low comparing to the previous years. This situation caused concerns among them, who fear incurring losses if the wholesale market continues to perform poorly. Following the availability of Ati, Guti, and Bombay varieties mangoes in the market, Himsagar mangoes have now entered the market in the district. According to the 'Mango Calendar' created by the Chuadanga District Administration and Agriculture Department, the collection and marketing of mangoes in the district commenced on May 14. However, the sales of Ati, Guti, and Bombay verities mangoes during the first week of the harvest did not meet expectations, said local farmers and traders. Also Read: Mango export begins with 10 tonnes to 4 countries Later, the harvest and marketing of Himsagar mango began on May 22. Despite an abundance supply of mangoes in the market, demand remained remarkably low, they said. Wholesale prices for Bombay mangoes ranged from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 per maund, while Ati and Guti mangoes were selling for Tk 350 to Tk 500 per maund, depending on size and quality, they said. On the other hand, Himsagar mangoes were being sold at Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400 per maund. In the retail market, the prices per kilogram were TK 45 to 50 for Himsagar, TK 40 to 45 for Bombay, and TK 15 to 20 for Anti and Guti. Read more: Mango harvest begins in Natore with Gopalbhog variety At the beginning of last year's season, Himsagar mangoes were sold in the wholesale market at rates ranging from Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,400 per maund. Similarly, Bombay mangoes were sold between Tk 1,600 and Tk 2,000 per kg, while Ati and Guti mangoes fetched prices of Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400. This year, however, prices have decreased by nearly half. According to sources from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a total of 2,465 hectares land were brought under mango cultivation in the current season and 28,265 metric tonnes are expected to be produced. As per the mango calendar, Lengra mangoes will be harvested and marketed on May 25, followed by Amrapali and Bari-3 on June 5, Fazli on June 21, and Ashwina and Bari-4 on July 1. The main hub for mangoes in the district is Barabazar Phalpatti, situated on the banks of the Mathabhanga River in Chuadanga town. Each morning, trades, buyers throng the market. Currently, four types of mangoes dominate the market, with Bombay and Himsagar mangoes experiencing high demand. Also Read: Bumper production of mango: Chapainawabganj farmers are all smiles Md. Rafiq, a wholesaler, attributed the price decline to an excess supply of mangoes compared to the current demand. But he expressed optimism, saying, “However, the market will pick up in a few days, and mango sales will increase. Additionally, the huge demand for litchi in the market is still affecting mango sales. Once the demand for litchi decreases, mango sales will improve, leading to higher prices.” Nuruddin, a mango trader, expressed his concerns about the current market situation, fearing that farmers' capital would suffer if prices continued to remain low. “ It is disheartening to witness such low prices for mangoes,” he said. Read more: Mango harvesting in Rajshahi begins Thursday Kalam Miah, general secretary of the Chuadanga District Fruit Traders Association, highlighted that the market still had various seasonal fruits, including litchi, readily available. He added, "If mangoes continue to be sold at such low prices, how will the farmers make any profit? If mango prices remain low throughout the year, how will they sustain themselves?”

Due to untimely pre-monsoon showers crops in some 412 hectares of land were damaged in Kurigram according to the Department of Agricultural Extension. Due to incessant rain in the last two months 265 hectares of Boro paddy, 95 hectares of Jute, 20 hectares of peanut, 12 hectares of vegetables,10 hectares of sesame,, five hectares of quinoa, and five hectares of radhuni horse (spice) were ruined. “ As the sun did not come out, 30 maund of paddy I harvested started to rot. The wholesalers are not ready to buy these paddies even at tk 600 per maund,” said Suman, a well-off farmer from Shialkanda village in Nageshwari upazila. Also read: Croplands inundated in Faridpur as major rivers swell Agriculturist Abdur Rashid, Deputy Director of DAE said, “We have got the primary estimation of the damages which shows 60 per cent of the crops got damaged. But we can estimate the amount of loss later.” He said so far 84 percent of Boro crops in the district have been collected. “The farmers are struggling a bit due to lack of sun otherwise the production met the expectations.” Md Abdur Sabur, assistant director of Rajarhat weather observatory center said “Due to climate change and easterly wind pressure this year 990 mm of rainfall has been recorded already in April and May this year in the district.” Also read: Sunamganj farmers fear crops loss as floodwater enters haors He said, “The rain showers will persist till June . Already 512 mm of rainfall has been recorded until Monday in this month. Due to excessive rains croplands of low-lying areas in the district are being inundated.”

 

A cold snap, disrupting life in the northern part of Bangladesh, will likely to damage the Boro seedbeds if the weather does not improve and potentially trigger a seedling crisis.

The Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Dr Selim Raihan on Saturday urged the government agencies to monitor the essentials market throughout the year, coordinating among the concerned departments and resolving data scarcity to control the market.

The fifth phase of flood in Kurigram has marooned 60,000 people, according to the UP chairmen of the flood-hit areas.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Save the Children International (SCI) on Sunday. 

Md Abul Kasem Azad, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Bogura, died of Covid-19 at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on Sunday morning.   Azad breathed his last around 11:15am while undergoing treatment at the hospital, said a condolence message of the Agriculture Ministry.   He has left behind his wife, two sons and a host of well-wishers to mourn his death.   Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque and Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman expressed their deep shock over death of the deputy director.   In a condolence message, they prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), on Monday distributed agricultural machinery and rice seed as part of a joint emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic.