This year, Brahmanbaria district is seeing a bumper mustard crop. With no damage from pests or diseases, farmers are optimistic about a good harvest.
However, the area cultivated with mustard is about 1,000 hectares less than the targeted area. Despite this, the yield is expected to surpass last year’s, giving farmers hope for a better season.
The district’s agricultural department had set a target of 17,569 hectares for mustard cultivation, but only 16,118 hectares have been planted. The mustard fields are now filled with vibrant golden flowers, creating a picturesque landscape that attracts beauty enthusiasts every day. Some people wander through the fields, snapping photos, while others relax and enjoy the serene environment.
For the farmers, the mustard crop promises high returns with minimal investment. The agricultural department is working hard to ensure a successful harvest and provide support for the future.
Md Sahad Mia, a farmer from Bakail village in Majlishpur Union, Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila, has cultivated mustard on five and a half kani of land this year. He has been growing mustard for three years and finds it to be a highly profitable crop, requiring low investment and offering great returns. With favorable weather conditions, he is optimistic about his harvest.
Another farmer from the same village, Eshad Ullah, has planted mustard on six kani of land this year. He too is hopeful for a good yield, with the mustard plants blooming well. Compared to rice cultivation, mustard provides a higher return, with the cost of cultivation being relatively low.
Each kani of land yields around five to five and a half maund of mustard, which can be sold for Tk3,500 to Tk4,000 per maund. Farmers can even grow paddy twice on the same land if the mustard is planted at the right time.
Upazila Agricultural Officer Shahana Begum reported that in the 2025-26 fiscal year, Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila has cultivated mustard on about 761 hectares, almost doubling the target of 360 hectares.
Under the agricultural incentive programme, 1,350 farmers have received mustard seeds and fertilisers.
Additionally, about 30 farmers in the Cumilla region have been provided with seeds, fertilisers, and other essential materials under the Sustainable Agricultural Technology Expansion Project.
This year, the BARi-14 variety of mustard has been the most widely cultivated due to its higher yields in a shorter period. A new variety, BARi-20, has also been showcased by farmers like Eshad Ullah, who dedicated six bighas of land to demonstrate the new variety.
Another six bighas in Kachait village are also being used for BARi-20 mustard exhibitions. These demonstration plots are supplied with base seeds to allow farmers to preserve them for future cultivation.
Shahana Begum emphasised that the oil produced from these mustard crops is of excellent quality, free from any adulteration. The BARi-18 variety, known for its healthy oil that is free of erucic acid, is also being showcased in ten demonstrations. Erucic acid can be harmful in large quantities, which is why varieties like BARi-18 are bred to ensure safer consumption.
If farmers manage to grow mustard during the transitional period between transplanted Aman and Boro rice, they can expect to harvest between six to eight maunds per bigha. District Agro Training Officer Munshi Tofayel Hossain pointed out that although the mustard cultivation area fell short of the target by 1,118 hectares, the yield this year remains promising due to favorable weather conditions and the absence of pest and fungal attacks.
