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Farmers have produced an all-time record of over 25.37 lakh tonnes of potato in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region this season and are getting better prices.
Market prices of potato are better this time following a realistic step taken by the government to increase its export to Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a target of producing 22 lakh 64 thousand 596 tonnes of potato was fixed from 97,125 hectares of land in the region this season.
“However, farmers finally cultivated potatoes on 98,458 hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target by 1,333 hectares or 1.37 percent,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Ikbal told BSS today.
After completing harvest, farmers have produced 25 lakh 37 thousand and 981 tonnes of the potato with an average yield rate of 24.97 tonnes per hectare of land exceeding the fixed production target by two lakh 73 thousand and 385 tonnes or 12.07 percent.
The DAE and other agriculture related organizations provided quality potato seeds, latest technologies and training to farmers to make the intensive potato farming program a success.
“Potatoes produced using standard protocols of the good agricultural practices in Mithapukur and Pirgachha upazilas of Rangpur are being exported to Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates from March last,” Ikbal said.
Potato grower Nur Hossain of village Beltola in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur said, “I am earning excellent by selling each kilogram of potato at rates between Taka 12 and Taka 14 this year.”
Potato grower Fazlu Mian of village Birahim in the same upazila thanked the agriculture ministry and DAE for providing training and assistance to the farmers to cultivate export quality potato on commercial basis adopting the good agricultural practices.
Pirgachha Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Saiful Islam said an order for exporting 4,500 tonnes of ‘Santa’, Diamond, ‘Kumarika’, Granula, ‘Kumbika Aluet’, Astarisk and Shunshine variities of potatoes from the upazila have so far been received this year.
“These varieties of potatoes cultivated adopting the good agricultural practices have huge demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries,” he added.
Potato trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Market farmers are now selling each sac containing 60 kilogram of ‘Santa’,’Diamond’, ‘Kumarika’, ‘Cardinal’, ‘Raja’, ‘Granula’ and ‘Astarisk’ varieties of potato at Taka 720 to Taka 840 to earn excellent profits.
Besides, each 60 kilogram sac of local varieties of potatoes like ‘Sheel Alu’ and ‘Jhau Alu’ are currently being sold at Taka 1,300 to Taka 1,400 in the wholesale markets in Rangpur city.
Potato retailers Echahaq Ali, Abdul Aziz, Fazlur Rahman and Md. Faruk at different kitchen markets in Rangpur city said they are selling potatoes at rates between Taka 14 and 15 per kilogram.
“Besides, each kilogram of”Sheel Alu’ and ‘Jhau Alu’ is now being sold at Taka 24 to Taka 25 in kitchen markets,” said potato retailer Fazlur Rahman at Rangpur Keranipara kitchen market.
President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu expressed happiness over excellent potato output and its better market prices this season.
He stressed establishing adequate potato-based agro-industries and preservation facilities of potato both at the private and public sector initiatives and enhancing potato exports to ensure fair prices for farmers.
(BSS)
