Sirajganj’s Mustard Fields Bloom, Promise Bumper Harvest

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.

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.

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, reports UNB.