RANGPUR, Dec 27, 2024 (BSS) - Farmers and officials are expecting an all-time
record production of potato as its farming target has already been exceeded
by 16.35 percent in the Rangpur agricultural region and sowing of seeds still
continues.
 
Meanwhile, early varieties of potato have already appeared in local markets
with lucrative prices making farmers in all five districts of the region
happy this time.
 
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said a target of
producing an all-time record 26,99,197 tonnes of potato has been fixed from
cultivating the crop on 1,01,576 hectares of land for the region during this
Rabi season.
 
"Farmers have already brought 1,18,183 hectares of land, higher by 16,607
hectares or 16.35 percent against the fixed farming target, under potato
cultivation by Thursday," said DAE's Additional Director for 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 to harvest early varieties of potato they
had cultivated after harvesting short duration Aman rice on the same land
since late October and early November last.
 
"Farmers have already harvested their cultivated early varieties of potatoes
on 7,241 hectares of land and produced 97,797 tonnes of the tuber crop at an
excellent average yield rate of 13.51 tonnes per hectare of land," Rahman
said.
 
Farmers are showing more interest in farming potatoes after getting special
assistance from the interim government in terms of seed and fertilizers free
of cost and repeated bumper output every year in recent times.
 
The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Institute and related organisations provided quality
potato seeds and assistance to farmers to make the potato farming programme
successful.
 
"Officials and experts of the DAE and other related organisations are
providing latest technologies to farmers in properly nursing their tender
potato plants to get better yield even in the face of the sweeping cold wave
over the whole region," Obaidur Rahman said.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Alfaz Hossain, Nurunnabi Khan, Arman Hossain and
Solaiman Ali of different villages in Rangpur said they are earning superb
profits from harvesting and selling early variety potatoes.
 
"After harvesting early varieties of potatoes, we are preparing to cultivate
Boro rice on the same land," said farmer Manik Mian of Darshona village in
Rangpur Sadar and expressed satisfaction over the present market price of
early varieties of potatoes.
 
Vegetable trader at Rangpur City Bazar Kitchen Market Hafizur Rahman today
said newly-harvested potatoes are presently being sold at rates between Taka
40 and Taka 65 per kilogram (Kg) in retail markets depending on qualities and
varieties.
 
"The wholesalers are currently selling the newly-harvested potatoes at rates
between Taka 35 and Taka 60 per kg to retailers after purchasing the same
from middlemen traders and farmers at rates between Taka 25 and 55 per kg,"
he added.