The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Prices of potato start falling following arrival of newly harvested early variety of potato in the local markets in the country's northern region now, market sources said.

The newly harvested potato is selling at rates between Taka 13 and Taka 15 per kg against Taka 30 and Taka 35 per kg a month ago in the local markets and the prices are expected to fall further with more harvests, the sources added.

The early variety potato has flooded the local markets as farmers cultivated those much ahead than that of the traditional periods after harvesting short duration BRRI Dhan-33 Aman paddy and summer vegetables, DAE sources said.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a 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 region.

The target is higher by 35 percent 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, DAE officials said.

The farmers still continue sowing seeds of late variety potato at many places after harvesting their T-Aman paddy and more land is expected to be brought under potato cultivation with a possibility of bumper production this season.

The farmers are expected to cultivate the major crop in more land than the target and vast tract of the char lands has been brought under farming of the crop this time.

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

The easy-term agriculture loans provided to the small and marginal farmers for farming of Rabi crops including potato helped the farmers in farming the crop in more land this season, farmers said.