NALBARI, March 14 � Assam Agricultural University (AAU) Jorhat under its Technology Showcasing Programme (TSP) has taken up an initiative to attract the farmers of Nalbari district towards traditional mustard cultivation to meet the increasing demand of mustard oil. As the farmers of Nalbari district become uninterested to the mustard cultivation, the AAU, Jorhat through its Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Nalbari has succeeded in attracting 200 farmers to raise mustard cultivation.
According to the coordinator of KVK, Nalbari, Dr Mridul Deka the KVK selected 80 hectare areas of Nathkuchi, Namati, Doloigaon, Amoni, Nadala, Bilbeswar, Jagara and Adabari villages in Nalbari district for the mustard cultivation and provides all important inputs like seeds and fertilizers free of cost, considering the present status of this coops, the scientists of Nalbari expected that around 900 quintals of mustard seeds would be produced from these areas. Dr Deka who is monitoring the crops told this correspondent that the main reason of the farmer�s disinterest towards mustard cultivation is unavailability of seeds of high yielding variety. �So the KVK decided to utilise the 900 quintals mustard production as foundation seeds in the next season so that the area cover of mustards increases, Deka added saying that in Nalbari district, the requirement of mustard seeds is from 700 quintals to 800 quintals. The small and marginal farmers of the district are unable to collect these seeds as they are not available locally.
While talking to this correspondent two progressive farmers of Namati area Tapan Kalita, and Bhagawan Kalita said that they will succeed in getting a production of 10-15 quintals per hectare. Interestingly their mustard cultivation has also attracted more farmers towards this profitable crops.
Two Nathkuchi farmers Biraj Sarma and Naba Medhi opined that the Assam Agricultural University and Nalbari KVK have opened their eyes towards this profit making crop. They will continue it in the next season too. It may be mentioned here that the Nalbari KVK this season has engaged 200 farmers under the Technology Showcasing Programmes.
