Farmers in Koyra upazila of Khulna are increasingly embracing mustard cultivation, driven by its promising financial benefits. The area dedicated to mustard fields has been steadily expanding each year, with farmers reaping dual rewards from the crop—the mustard yield itself and the honey produced from the flowers, officials said.  This year, mustard fields spanning across Amadi, Bagali, Meheshripur, Moharajpur, Koyra Sadar, Uttar and Dakshin Bedakashi villages have turned into vibrant yellow landscapes, attracting not only farmers but also nature enthusiasts seeking beauty in the countryside. Naogaon farmers make a fortune on mustard and honey According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, mustard cultivation has been carried out on 210 hectares of land this season, with 200 farmers receiving government incentives. Each farmer was provided with 10 kilograms of DAP, 10 kilograms of MOP, and one kilogram of mustard seeds to aid their efforts. Farmers' Optimism Nazrul Islam, a farmer from Kalna village, expanded his mustard cultivation by an additional two bighas this year, bringing the total to seven bighas. “Last year’s bumper yield inspired me to increase the cultivated area,” he shared, adding that he is hopeful for another successful harvest. Similarly, young farmer Ashrafuzzam Liton from Balidanga village planted mustard for the first time this season, following guidance from the upazila agriculture office. “If no natural disaster strikes, we can expect a bumper yield,” he expressed confidently. Meanwhile, Mohar Ali Ghain from Bedkashi village cultivated mustard on two bighas of land at minimal cost, expecting a substantial crop this year. Overcoming Challenges Md Abdullah Al Mamun, the Upazila Agriculture Officer, highlighted the significant potential for mustard and sunflower cultivation in Koyra. Flowers worth Tk 100 crore expected to be sold in Jashore this season Despite excessive rainfall delaying the Aman paddy harvest and slightly reducing the area for mustard cultivation, farmers adapted quickly. By following the advice of the Agriculture Extension Department, they managed to plant mustard on fallow land, mitigating potential losses. Role of Mustard in Bangladesh Mustard is a vital oilseed crop in Bangladesh, cultivated extensively across the country. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Bangladesh produced 409,659 metric tonnes of mustard. The Ministry of Agriculture has set an ambitious target to expand mustard cultivation to 2.3 million hectares by 2024-2025. The crop holds both economic and nutritional significance. Mustard is a high-energy food, rich in fat-soluble vitamins. As temperatures in Bangladesh rise from February, the crop must be harvested by mid-February to ensure optimal yield. Innovative Mustard Varieties One promising variety is Binasarisha-8, known for its shorter height, black seed coat, and resistance to Alternaria blight disease. This variety can yield up to 2.4 tonnes of seeds per hectare, offering farmers a reliable and productive option. Sunamganj farmers struggling to cultivate Boro due to badly-planned road A Bright Future The growing enthusiasm for mustard farming in Koyra, combined with supportive measures from the government and agriculture offices, paints an optimistic picture for the future of this vital crop. With a continued focus on innovation, sustainable farming practices, and market access, mustard cultivation is set to thrive as a key contributor to Bangladesh’s agricultural landscape.  

Farmers in the coastal district of Khulna are a worried lot because of something they had no control over -- drought. With aridity delaying the Aman paddy cultivation process by nearly one-and-a-half months, the 80,000-plus farmers in the district fear that they may not be able to even recover the production cost this year. According to the department of agricultural extension (DoAE), only 16,055 hectares of land have so far been cultivated with Aman paddy -- barely one-fifth of the targeted 93,070 hectares. According to the weather department, almost four to five times less rainfall was recorded this year in Khulna as compared to last year. Read: Jute growers paying for drought that resulted in discoloured fibre In 2021, a total of 388.89 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 506 mm in July and 213 mm in August. But this year, 94.36 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 91.27 mm in July, and 161.19 mm till August 23. In the current season, 3,630 hectares of land in the district have been cultivated with Aush paddy, 1,316 hectares with jute, 35 hectares with tomato, 273 hectares with watermelon, 295 hectares with beans, and 8,265 hectares with winter vegetables. Farmers say Aman paddy needs plenty of water. "I only know how I am managing water to irrigate my 10 bighas of land to keep the planted beans alive,” said Abu Hanif Morol, a farmer from Kharnia village of Dumuria upazila. Farmers of Bamandia, Panchpota, Gonali, Bhadradia and Tipna villages are irrigating their Aman fields with water from the Bhadra river -- but channelising the river water is increasing their production costs. Md Hafizur Rahman, deputy director of Khulna DoAE, said Aman is being cultivated with water from the river in Fultola, Terokhada, Rupsha, Batiaghata, Dumuria, Dighalia and Dakop upazilas.  "Meanwhile, in Paikgacha and Koira upazilas, farmers were unable to use the river water as it is still too saline," he said. Read: Drought-like situation frustrates Aman growers in Naogaon “Already 100% seedbeds for Aman have been prepared but the production will still be less than projected due to a drought-like situation, " said the Khulna DoAE official. Lack of rainfall has slowed down the entire Aman cultivation process, said Paikgacha upazila agriculture officer, Jahangir Alam."Farmers have been advised to get in touch with the Rural Electrification Board." Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant agriculture officer of Dakop upazila, said apart from the delay in Aman cultivation, production of watermelons and vegetables has also been hit in Pankhali union.

Despite bumper production of watermelon in Dakope upazila of Khulna, frustration has gripped the growers as they are fearing huge losses for lack of buyers and low prices due to coronavirus outbreak.   Farmers said watermelons are rotting in the fields as there is lack of customers at the market due to the restriction in movement imposed to stop the transmission of the deadly virus.   Huge watermelons are likely to be damaged in the fields as those are not being harvested for lack of buyers, they said.

Farmers in Koyra upazila of Khulna have been successful in sunflower cultivation on saline soils which used to lie unused after the cultivation of Aman paddy.   The farmers of the upazila had, in fact, started farming sunflower on the saline soils experimentally and they were now expecting good profit from it.   Talking to UNB, some famers said the lands used to lie fallow after the Aman paddy harvesting and they started cultivating sunflower on those in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) and the yield looks to be very good.   During a recent visit to sunflower fields at Chandipur village and Koyra-2 village under Amadi union in the upazila, the UNB correspondent found one hectare of land covered with yellow sunflower that has brought luck for farmers.   The department has been successful in cultivating sunflower experimentally on saline fallow lands.   "I’ve grown sunflowers on 15 bighas of land," said Subhas Mandal, a local farmer.   As the saline lands used to lie unused after Aman, ARI advised farmers to cultivate sunflower on that. They provided farmers with fertilizers, seeds and pesticides to bring the lands under cultivation.   ARI scientific assistant Zahid Hasan said salinity-tolerant sunflower was cultivated on one hectare of saline land at Koira's Chandipur and Koira-2 villages. “I visited the land regularly and gave the farmers necessary suggestions,” he said.   Earlier, sunflower was cultivated on experimental basis at Uttar Bedkashi Union and Koira-3 village in the upazila, Zahid said.   Salinity-tolerant sunflower was cultivated at the villages under the supervision of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Khulna.   BARI chief scientific officer Dr Md Harunur Rashid said sunflower is a salt tolerant crop. In the south region of the country, vast tracts of land remain fallow after harvesting Aman paddy. “It’s difficult to grow any other crop easily as there’s salt in the soil and water but sunflower can be cultivated with two irrigations,” he added.   In Bangladesh, sunflower cultivation as a crop goes back to 1975. It is currently cultivated — though in a limited way -- in Patuakhali, Rajshahi, Jashore, Kushtia, Natore, Pabna, Dinajpur, Gazipur and Tangail. Its seeds contain 40-45 percent linoleic acid. Since its oil does not contain harmful erucic acid, it is beneficial to heart patients.

Farmers in Khulna, who faced trouble over harvesting Boro crops due to labour crisis amid coronavirus shutdown, now have suffered yet another blow due to recent rains as that might damage the crop now lying in the field after it was cut down.