Mintu Abdur Rahman, Rangpur :
Acute crisis of quality potato seeds has been prevailing at Gangachara upazila in the district, much to the worry of the farmers. Farmers alleged that they are facing severe dearth of quality potato seeds at the beginning of the sowing season due to scarce supply of it by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
A good number of farmers at different areas under the upazila said that are yet to start sowing seeds in their lands although sowing season has already begun a couple of weeks ago after harvest of short duration paddy.
Frustrated farmers are now being compelled to purchase seeds at exorbitant prices from different seed producers like NGOs and private companies.
Due to scarce supply of quality seeds the farmers are being duped with substandard and low quality seeds. Consequently production target may not be achieved, it is apprehended.
According to upazila Agriculture office sources some 6000 hectares of lands are expected to be brought under potato cultivation in the upazila during the current season. The demand for potato seeds is 5,000 tonnes in the upazila but BADC supplied only 10 percent of the requirement which is too inadequate in comparison with the demand. Farmers said they prefer BADC seeds because those are disease free and yield is excellent.
A number of farmers said they have already sown seeds which they bought from market but are now concerned about the productivity of those seeds, they further said.Many farmers said that last year they failed to preserve potato seeds as their potato fields got damaged on account of fungus attack. For this reason they are facing an acute dearth of quality potato seeds.
Acute crisis of quality potato seeds has been prevailing at Gangachara upazila in the district, much to the worry of the farmers. Farmers alleged that they are facing severe dearth of quality potato seeds at the beginning of the sowing season due to scarce supply of it by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
A good number of farmers at different areas under the upazila said that are yet to start sowing seeds in their lands although sowing season has already begun a couple of weeks ago after harvest of short duration paddy.
Frustrated farmers are now being compelled to purchase seeds at exorbitant prices from different seed producers like NGOs and private companies.
Due to scarce supply of quality seeds the farmers are being duped with substandard and low quality seeds. Consequently production target may not be achieved, it is apprehended.
According to upazila Agriculture office sources some 6000 hectares of lands are expected to be brought under potato cultivation in the upazila during the current season. The demand for potato seeds is 5,000 tonnes in the upazila but BADC supplied only 10 percent of the requirement which is too inadequate in comparison with the demand. Farmers said they prefer BADC seeds because those are disease free and yield is excellent.
A number of farmers said they have already sown seeds which they bought from market but are now concerned about the productivity of those seeds, they further said.Many farmers said that last year they failed to preserve potato seeds as their potato fields got damaged on account of fungus attack. For this reason they are facing an acute dearth of quality potato seeds.
