Farmers in Nawalparasi Attracted to Mustard Cultivation Amid Rising Prices

Nawalparasi. Farmers in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) are becoming attracted to oilseed (mustard) crops. The number of farmers cultivating oilseeds in the district has increased due to the rise in the price of mustard over the past few years.

Sanjay Dhakal, an agricultural economist at the Agriculture Development Office, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), stated that farmers are attracted to mustard cultivation because it yields higher profits compared to other crops and allows them to consume oil produced from their own harvest rather than using commercially bought oil.

Dhakal mentioned that mustard crops were planted in 3,746 hectares in the district this year. Last year, mustard cultivation was carried out in 3,725 hectares in the district. Agricultural economist Dhakal informed that mustard cultivation has expanded by an additional 21 hectares this year compared to last year.

"In the last fiscal year 2081/82, when oilseed (mustard) was cultivated in 3,725 hectares, the production was 4,430 metric tons," he said, "This year, cultivation is done in 3,746 hectares, and we estimate the production to be 4,667 metric tons."

Kawasoti, Madhyabindu, Devchuli, and Gaindakot municipalities in the district are considered mustard pocket areas. Biswas Kafle, the information officer at the Agriculture Development Office, stated that farmers' interest in mustard cultivation, which is estimated to yield 1.25 metric tons per hectare this year, is increasing.

"Mustard cultivation is easy to plant and does not require much labor, which is why mustard farming is flourishing in the district," he said, "The main reasons for the increase in mustard cultivation are the rising prices and the adulteration found in market oils, which is drawing farmers towards cultivating mustard in the district." Mustard cultivation is ready in 80 to 90 days. Farmers are increasingly attracted to mustard cultivation because the oil produced from their own harvest is high quality, and the residue (pinaas) can also be used as fertilizer.

Dhanpati Adhikari of Kawasoti Municipality-15, who has been cultivating mustard for years, said that he plants enough mustard for his household consumption throughout the year and some for sale. "The demand for mustard in the village has also increased over the past two or three years," he said, "While I have been cultivating it annually for healthy oil consumption at home, in recent years, I have been planting more for sale within the village as well."