BSS, Joypurhat :
Farmers and others officials concerned in the district are happy with the bumper production of potato and its price this year.
Farmers have already completed harvesting of potato that grew in plenty this year for good weather. The farmers here said they expect a bumper production of potato and hope to recover the losses they incurred in the first phase of previous year.
With the hope of making more profit, the farmers in the current season cultivated potato on more lands than the target fixed by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
A total of 40,710 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in five upazila of the district with a production target of 8 lakh tonnes of potato.
But exceeding the target, a total of 9 lakh tonnes of potato were produced in the district as the weather was favourable.
Of the total, 7,200 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in Sadar upazila, 7,300 hectares in Panchbibi upazila, 5,200 hectares in Akkelpur upazila, 9,010 hectares in Khetlal upazila and 12,000 hectares in Kalai upazila.
Azad Hossain, a farmer of Kazipara village of Kalai upazila, said he cultivated Granola variety (white) potato on four bighas of land spending Taka about 50,000 on inputs like seeds, fertiliser and pesticides.
He harvested 40-45 mounds of potato from one bigha of land. Currently, per mound (40-kg) of Granola variety potato is selling at Taka 350-450.
Agriculture officer Abdul Majid said high quality of potato, produced in the district, are being exported to different countries including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia during the last three years.
There are 14 cold-storages in the district and farmers have started to store their potato in the cold storages for making more profit.
DAE Deputy Director AZM Sabbir Ibne Jahan said that the weather was favourable for cultivation of potato. Farmers use pesticide to keep their potato fresh and good with the suggestion of DAE field officials.
