The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 1,80,600 tonnes sweet potato from 12,900 hectares in the country's 16 northern districts during the current season.

Sources said the DAE and other government and non-government organisations concerned have taken necessary steps to make the onion cultivation a success in the region.

Under the programme, 200 hectares will be brought under farming in Rajshahi, 850 hectares in Naogaon, 500 hectares in Natore, 250 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 1500 hectares in Bogra, 350 hectares in Joypurhat, 500 hectares in Pabna and 1850 hectares in Sirajganj under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone this season.

Similarly, a total of 800 hectares will be brought under the cultivation in Rangpur, 1000 hectares in Gaibandha, 2000 hectares in Kurigram, 500 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 900 hectares in Nilphamari, 700 hectares in Dinajpur, 1,600 hectares in Panchagarh and 600 hectares in Thakurgaon districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone.

Additional Director of DAE Abul Basher told BSS that the sandy lands and the riverbeds are suitable for the sweet potato cultivation. So, people of the Ganges and Brahmaputra basins and the remote char areas are widely habituated in the farming along with consuming it. Production cost of the crop is very low, as it requires less fertiliser and irrigation.

Talking to BSS, DAE Deputy Director Braja Hari Das said nutritive value of the crop is similar to rice and its taste is delicious. It contains vitamins A and C and expected mineral elements, which are absent in rice. It is also enriched with protein, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, carotene and vitamin B1 and B2, which are essential for human body.

An adult person needs 13 grams vitamin-A per day that can be fulfilled after consuming only a single sweet potato. Braja Hari mentioned that people of Philippines and Papua New Guinea consume sweet potato as alternative of rice while in USA and Japan it is used as food widely.

He also mentioned that different types of tasty foods like halua, payesh, bread, pauruti, biscuit, pastry and cake could be made through processing the indigenous potato.

"If we can make the people habituated to sweet potato consumption the nation can reduce its dependence on rice to a greater extent," Braja Hari said adding that steps should be taken to make people aware in this regard.

In this context, he also said importance should be given to providing adequate training and technical know-how and agri-loans among the farmers to make the farming more popular and profitable so that the farmers could be encouraged to enhance its production.