The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a record target of producing 58,99,250 tonnes of potato from 3,37,100 hectares of land during the current season in all 16 northern districts of the country.

The fixed target is much higher than that of the previous season when the DAE had a target of producing 44,07,936 tonnes of potato from 2,49,600 hectares land and the farmers achieved the target in the northern region, officials said.

DAE sources told BSS that the farmers have already started sowing early variety potato in many areas and the process will get momentum with the proceedings of transplanted aman harvesting that just started in the region.

At the same time, most of the early variety potato fields are growing excellent everywhere as the farmers sowed potato seeds in those lands after harvesting the short duration BRRI Dhan-33 variety T-Aman paddy. The farmers are expected to cultivate the major crop in more land including the vast sandy char lands in the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna and other river basins in the region during this season. The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute and a number of NGOs have taken steps for providing potato seeds among the farmers to make the programme a success, officials said.

The concerned departments and administration have taken adequate steps for ensuring smooth supply of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, technical assistances and other inputs to the potato growers.

The early variety potato may appear in the markets by the middle of December as farmers have cultivated those ahead of the traditional periods in Bogra, Joypurhat, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari and in the other districts of the region, sources said.

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, commercial banks, other financial institutions and a number of NGOs are providing easy-term agri-loans for farming Rabi crops including potato in more land this season.

The DAE has fixed the per hectare production target of potato at 17.50 tonnes this time. A total of 50,000 hectares land will be brought under potato farming in Rangpur, 12,000 in Gaibandha, 6,500 hectares in Kurigram, 5,500 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 23,400 hectares in Nilphamari, 40,500 hectares in Dinajpur, 10,000 hectares in Panchagarh and 23,000 hectares in Thakurgaon under Rangpur Agriculture Zone.

Besides, potato will be cultivated in 34,000 hectares in Rajshahi, 23,000 hectares in Naogaon, 1,700 hectares in Natore, 2,500 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 63,000 hectares in Bogra, 37,000 hectares in Joypurhat, 2,000 hectares in Pabna and 3,000 hectares in Sirajganj districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone this season, the sources said.