Our Correspondent :
Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district is known as the key early potato farming hub of Bangladesh. At the same time, there is a rush to cultivate potatoes in advance in the district headquarters. Farmers in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari are busy cultivating potatoes in advance. They are busy in the hope of a good price. Some are preparing the land, while others have sown potato seeds after preparing the land.
Visiting Kishoreganj Upazila on Tuesday, it was seen that the farmers are planting Sakita, Karej and Jumplus potatoes along with Bari Seven variety of potatoes after cutting the paddy as the weather is favorable like other years. This advance potato cultivation is going on in the high flat land.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, the target for early potato cultivation has been set at 4,140 hectares this year. Short-term advance Ayus and Aman paddy is harvested, threshing is completed and early varieties of potato seeds are sown in the land. There is excitement among the farmers around the planting of potatoes all over the field.
Saidur Rahman, a farmer from Uttar Durakuti village in Kishoreganj upazila said, “I have planted six varieties of paddy on my three hectares of land at home. Now he has completed the preparation of planting potatoes in that land and has started sowing seeds. Like many, he is hoping for a good harvest this time.
Akbar Ali and Ratan Ali of Dighaltari village in Ranachandi union of the same upazila said there was some delay in potato cultivation due to heavy rains last year. Even after that I was able to pick potatoes and sell them in the market at 60 taka. This time due to low rainfall, I have completed the sowing of seeds from the land of potato in a short time. So this time I am hoping for a better price.
Nirendra Nath, Sub-assistant agriculture officer of Putimari union of the agriculture extension department, said farmers in the area used to cultivate other crops including maize on the land after planting potatoes. Since the land is ready, the cost for subsequent cultivation on that land is less. As a result, the farmers are getting more benefits there.
District Agriculture Extension Officer Abu Bakkar Siddique said there had been intermittent rains this year. This weather is a blessing for early variety potato cultivation. Last year, advance varieties of potatoes were cultivated in 7,220 hectares of land in the district. The amount of early variety potato cultivation will increase more than last year. He added that last year, potatoes were cultivated in a total of 22,000 hectares of land in the district. This year, the target for potato in the district has been set at 23,000 hectares. Early varieties of potato seeds will be sown throughout the month of last September.
At present seven varieties of potato seeds are being planted. As the farmers are getting price for potato cultivation, this time they are also inclined towards potato cultivation.
It may be mentioned that even 12 years ago, Ashwin-Kartik was known as the month of scarcity in 5 districts of the greater Rangpur region. That day is no more.
