Borhanuddin (Bhola) Correspondent :
Potato cultivation is gradually increasing in Borhanuddin Upazila as yield and profit are good .
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, the target for potato cultivation was set at 760 hectares of land. Potatoes have been cultivated in 880 hectares of land by spreading that target. Besides, instead of the production target of 19,760 metric tons, 27,320 metric tons of potatoes have been produced which is much higher than the total demand of the upazila.
It is learned that the government has recently taken initiative to export potatoes abroad. Increasing its range will benefit the farmers as well as increase the amount of potato production. Conscious quarters think that if our production can export potatoes, the window of new possibilities of agricultural economy will open. Besides, the taste of Bhola’s potatoes is higher than other districts due to differences in soil nature. That is why appreciation is high.
The number of potato growers has been increasing in the last five years due to higher profits in less time. As a result, potato cultivation in Borhanuddin is becoming one of the lucrative crops. Besides, farmers are also earning extra money as there is an opportunity to plant multiple crops including sugarcane, pumpkin, spinach and maize in the potato field.
Farmers are seeing gains in bumper yields due to favourable weather, less insect infestation and monitoring by the agriculture office, except for the rains earlier this year. The Upazila Agriculture Office also mentioned the same reason for bumper potato yield. However, due to lack of cold storage for potato storage in the upazila, farmers are often forced to sell potatoes at low prices. Although there is a privately owned cold storage in the district headquarters, the cost of transporting and storing potatoes increases. There are also various distractions.
At the beginning of Agrahayan month in Bhola, the farmers of the district cultivate potatoes. But due to unseasonal rains, potato seeds had to be sown after 15-20 days. Although some farmers sow potatoes during the rainy season, the number of affected farmers is not very high.
Most of the potato production is produced in Ward No. 3 of Baramanika Union of the upazila, Choto Manika village of Kutuba Union and Ward No. 8 of Pakshiya Union. Reshad Ali, a potato farmer in the area on Wednesday afternoon. Eshahak, Hossain Mollah, Md. Kamal said that this year they have cultivated diamond seed potatoes bought from Munshiganj. Besides, some of the latest invented seed BARI potato-91 (Carolus) varieties have also been cultivated. Insect attacks were lower than at any time. It goes without saying that there was no fog. Besides, Mizanur Rahman Rony, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of the area, assisted with advice. Overall the yield has been good. They have sold potatoes to wholesalers in the field as the price is good.
They also said that the average potato production has been 16-18 mons per 4 hundredth. The cost is about 4 thousand taka. Selling a little more than 9,300 taka. Reshad Ali, a farmer from Baramanika block, said he has cultivated potatoes on 3 acres of land. It has cost about 3 lakh taka. About 6 lakh rupees has been sold. Hossain Khandaker of the same block has spent 1 lakh 40 thousand taka on potato cultivation on 1 acre 24 hundredth land.
About 2 lakh 90 thousand taka have been sold. Besides, Hossain Mollah of Kutuba block said that 1 acre 40 hundredth of his land has been cultivated for 1 lakh 56 thousand taka. Sold about 3 lakh 25 thousand taka. Ishaq Mia of the same area, Nirab Mollah, Md. Helal Mia has produced almost the same type of potato.
Mizanur Rahman Rony, deputy assistant agriculture officer of Baramanika and kutuba blocks, said the agriculture office had provided all kinds of assistance to the potato farmers.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Omar Faruq said favourable weather was the biggest reason for bumper potato yield. Besides, the Upazila Agriculture Office has provided all possible assistance to the potato growers. If potatoes can be exported, Borhanuddin’s agricultural economy will get a new dimension.
