Md. AtowarRahman, Nilphamari Correspondent :
Harvest of early variety of potato, locally known as ‘NotunAlu’ (new potato) has started and going on in full swing across Nilphamari, especially at Kishoreganjupazila.
Although the yield is lower from the varieties, but growers are happy as they are getting Tk 58-62 for per kg potato.Kisoreganj of Nilphamari is famous for cultivation of early potato.
New potato is being sent to different districts from the upazila which helps gaining good fortune for farmers.
Abdul Hai, a farmer of Kuthipara village in Ranachandi union of the upazila, has collected potatoes in advance on Friday. Local traders got the news and bought the potatoes at Tk 60 per kg.
Potato farmer Abdul Hai said he got 190 kg of potatoes planted in 10 decimals of the land. He got Tk 11,600 by selling the crops.
Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishibid Mohammad Habibur Rahman said the target for early variety potato cultivation in the upazila was 4,150 hectares this year, against which 4,260 hectares have been planted.
He said about 1,050 hectares of land has been harvested and the average production is about 7.5 tonnes per hectare.
Early potato production is usually yields low but due to high prices, profit is much higher than seasonal potatoes, he said.
However, Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension, Nilphamari, Md Obaidur Rahman Mondol, said due to untimely rain and flooding in some unions, the acreage was a little bit low this year.
He said despite all odds, a total of 7500 hectares of land has been brought under early potato cultivation this year and they were expecting 44,500-45,000 tons of the produce.
However, new potato was being retailed at Tk 65-70 a kg and stored potato at Tk 42-45 a kg in Nilphamari kitchen markets on Friday.
Harvest of early variety of potato, locally known as ‘NotunAlu’ (new potato) has started and going on in full swing across Nilphamari, especially at Kishoreganjupazila.
Although the yield is lower from the varieties, but growers are happy as they are getting Tk 58-62 for per kg potato.Kisoreganj of Nilphamari is famous for cultivation of early potato.
New potato is being sent to different districts from the upazila which helps gaining good fortune for farmers.
Abdul Hai, a farmer of Kuthipara village in Ranachandi union of the upazila, has collected potatoes in advance on Friday. Local traders got the news and bought the potatoes at Tk 60 per kg.
Potato farmer Abdul Hai said he got 190 kg of potatoes planted in 10 decimals of the land. He got Tk 11,600 by selling the crops.
Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishibid Mohammad Habibur Rahman said the target for early variety potato cultivation in the upazila was 4,150 hectares this year, against which 4,260 hectares have been planted.
He said about 1,050 hectares of land has been harvested and the average production is about 7.5 tonnes per hectare.
Early potato production is usually yields low but due to high prices, profit is much higher than seasonal potatoes, he said.
However, Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension, Nilphamari, Md Obaidur Rahman Mondol, said due to untimely rain and flooding in some unions, the acreage was a little bit low this year.
He said despite all odds, a total of 7500 hectares of land has been brought under early potato cultivation this year and they were expecting 44,500-45,000 tons of the produce.
However, new potato was being retailed at Tk 65-70 a kg and stored potato at Tk 42-45 a kg in Nilphamari kitchen markets on Friday.
