Farmers in Panchagarh district are happy over bumper potato production this year as they have started harvesting the popular food item with much enthusiasm.
The farmers have cultivated potato on 21,800 hectares of land in Thakurgaon and 9,505 hectares in Panchagarh district this year, said sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Traders from different districts have already started buying potato from the fields at prices from Tk 9:30 and Tk 12, depending on the size and quality of the item, while the selling prices at wholesale markets range between Tk 13 and Tk 16.
So, this year, the farmers also have cultivated potato with the hope of getting profit. Farmers are now preserving potatoes in the cold-storage with the hope of getting fair price. Per sack containing 85 kg potato is being sold at Tk 800 to 900. Farmers are selling potato from their land as traders come from different parts of the country and purchases potato and sent it to different districts.
DAE deputy director here Mizanur Rahman said potato cultivation is increasing as the land of Panchagarh is good for its cultivation because its ground is comparatively high than other districts. High land is good for potato cultivation, he said. This year, the climate condition was conducive for potato farming as severe cold and dense fog harmful for potato was comparatively low, he said.
The DAE gave high quality potato seeds to 200 farmers for demonstration plot. The DAE field level officers also gave necessary advice to the farmers for protection from disease to potato plants which is hoped to be the main reason for bumper production, the deputy director added. On the other hand, the different commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and some NGOs disbursed the short term easy loan among the potato growers for boosting its production.
