Farmers’ Field Day Held in Thakurgaon

A Farmers’ Field Day was held in Thakurgaon to increase mustard production and strengthen the supply system in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts under the “Pathways to Prosperity (P2P)” project. The program is being implemented with support from the international development organization Solidaridad Network Asia and the initiative of the local implementing partner Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO).

Under the project, activities are being carried out to improve mustard cultivation in 10 upazilas across the two districts. Around 40,000 mustard farmers have been included in the initiative to enhance production and improve marketing systems.

As part of the project, 80 demonstration farmers were selected, and for the first time field trials of the BARI Mustard-20 variety were completed with overall technical support from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). Farmers participating in the field day reported that this variety matured within just 85 days, had comparatively lower disease incidence, and produced yields of about 3 tons per hectare—approximately 25% higher than other varieties. The higher yield within a shorter period has created strong interest among farmers to cultivate this variety.

During the current season, the project distributed approximately 1,200 kg of improved BARI Mustard-20 seeds and 290 tons of fertilizer among 19,000 farmers.

The chief guest at the event was Dr. Sarkar Md. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, Principal Scientific Officer of BARI Thakurgaon, along with Md. Mazedul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Thakurgaon.

Special guests included Md. Ruhul Amin, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) Thakurgaon, and Md. Nasirul Alam, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Thakurgaon Sadar.

The program was chaired by Md. Ashraful Alam, APC and Project Focal Officer of ESDO, and moderated by Md. Atikuzzaman, Program Manager of Solidaridad.

Officials from various departments, media representatives, project-related entrepreneurs, and a large number of mustard farmers also participated enthusiastically in the event. Speakers highlighted the field-level achievements and emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to further expand the cultivation of improved mustard varieties.