RANGPUR, Dec 12, 2024 (BSS) – After getting a lucrative price last year, farmers are expecting a bumper potato output in Rangpur agriculture region where early varieties of potato have already appeared in local markets with rewarding prices.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a target of producing an all-time record 26,99,197 tonnes of potato has been fixed from 1,01,576 hectares of land for the region during this Rabi season.
 
“Farmers have already brought 95,970 hectares of land, 94.50 percent against the fixed farming target, under potato cultivation in the region where sowing of its seed continues,” said Additional Director of the DAE’s Rangpur region Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal.
 
Sowing of potato seed will continue till January next both in the mainland and char areas in all five districts -Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat- in the region.
 
Meanwhile, farmers are continuing harvest of early potato varieties they had cultivated after harvesting short duration and hybrid varieties of Aman rice on their croplands since late October last in the region.
 
“Farmers are showing keen interest in farming potatoes both in the mainland and char areas after getting lucrative prices last season and government assistance this year in the region,” he said.  
 
The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and other related organizations have provided quality potato seeds to farmers to make the intensive potato farming a success this season.
 
“Officials of the DAE and other related organizations are providing latest technologies to farmers in properly nursing their potato fields to get better yield even in the face of the upcoming possible cold wave,” Rahman said.
 
He lauded various initiatives taken by the present interim government to assist farmers in enhancing production of potato and other winter crops through ensuring smooth supply of fertilizers and other necessary inputs to them.
 
"Field level officials of the DAE, other agriculture-related organizations are providing the latest technologies to farmers for proper sowing of potato seeds and nursing tender potato plants to get maximum yield," he added.  
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Mohibur and Mofizar Rahman of different villages in Rangpur Sadar upazila said they have cultivated early variety potato after harvesting short duration Aman rice and are harvesting those to earn maximum profits now.
 
Potato grower Ariful Haque of Rangpur Sadar expressed satisfaction over the present price of newly harvested potato in local markets.
 
Vegetable trader at Rangpur City Bazar Kitchen Market Hafizur Rahman today told BSS that farmers are getting better prices of their newly harvested potato, supply which is increasing day by day in local markets.
 
Vegetable trader Fazlur Rahman at Keranipara Kitchen Market in Rangpur city said newly harvested potatoes are currently being sold at rates between Taka 70 and Taka 80 per kg in retail markets depending on qualities and varieties.
 
“The wholesalers are selling newly harvested potatoes at rates between Taka 55 and Taka 70 per kg to retailers after purchasing the same from middlemen traders and farmers at rates between Taka 50 and 55 per kg,” he added.