A pilot mustard cultivation project has yielded encouraging results in the Madhyam Merangloya area of Ramu upazila in Cox’s Bazar, raising hopes for future commercial production. Harvesting of the crop is currently underway.
The farmers are also preparing to extract oil from the mustard seeds they produce using machines.
According to local sources, farmer Abdul Gafur cultivated mustard on 15 decimals of land at a cost of about Tk 5,000 under an experimental initiative, with financial support and technical assistance from the agriculture office.
Abdul Gafur said that the project was launched on a trial basis with support from the agriculture department and that the yield had been satisfactory. ‘As the production has been excellent, I am optimistic.
If it proves profitable, I plan to go for commercial mustard cultivation in the future,’ he said, adding that oil would be extracted from the harvested mustard using his machine.
The mustard field is located in Madhyam Merangloya, near the under-construction New Bakkhali High School building and adjacent to the beel area in front of Ramu Laboratory High School.
Local residents said that if the initiative succeeds, it could open up new opportunities for mustard cultivation in the area and help farmers explore alternative sources of income.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
