December 21: The production of mustard has increased in Chitwan district with the increase in area of plantation.

According to the statistics of the Directorate of Agricultural Development, 12,180 metric tons of mustard was produced on 12,255 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2076/77. In the last fiscal year (FY 2077/78), a total of 12,218 metric tons of mustard was produced on 12,260 hectares of land.

As mustard has been planted in 12,270 hectares of land in the current fiscal year, the production is expected to increase this year as well. “The weather is favorable now, the mustard flowers are in good condition and there is no frost. It is likely that the production will increase,” said Yuvraj Pandey, head of the Directorate of Agricultural Development, Chitwan.  Lately, farmers have been attracted towards mustard farming.

Madhav Poudel, information officer at the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project, Chitwan said that the increase in production was due to the increase in attraction towards mustard farming and the implementation of pocket and block programs.

“The demand and price of mustard has also increased,” he said, adding, “That is why the farmers have started cultivating mustard instead of other crops.” According to Poudel, a mustard block program has been introduced in Madi of the district this year. Poudel says that there will be an increase in production this year due to good flowering and good pollination.

In the last few fiscal years, the area for mustard plantation was fluctuating which directly impacted mustard production. In the fiscal year 2074/75, mustard farming was done on 12,251 hectares of land while the production was 12,200 metric tons and in the fiscal year 2075/76, mustard was planted on 12,260 hectares of land with an output of 12,300 metric tons of mustard.

The production of mustard planted in the district has been fluctuating. According to the Directorate of Agricultural Development, the production of mustard was fluctuating due to changes in irrigation, fertilizer and seasonal adaptations.

According to the Center, productivity per hectare is estimated to be 995.83 kg in fiscal year 2074/75, 1003.26 kg in FY 2075/76, 993.88 kg in FY 2076/77, 996.57 kg in FY 2077/78 and 1000 kg in the current Fiscal Year. It is estimated that 10 metric tons more will be produced this year as the area under mustard cultivation has increased by 10 hectares as compared to last year.

In Chitwan, mustard and sesame are planted in the category of oilseeds. Local as well as varieties of mustard are grown here. Oilseeds are planted in about 28 percent of the cultivable land in the district.