Farmers achieve record potato production
The farmers have harvested a record production of about 18.16 lakh tonnes of potato and also getting lucrative market price this time in Rangpur agriculture zone, reports BSS.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, a target of producing 18.06 lakh tonnes of potato was fixed from 91,921 hectares of land in all five districts in the region during the just ended Rabi season.
The farmers, however, cultivated potato in 94,160 hectares of land, which is 2,239 hectares or 2.43 per cent more than the fixed target of bringing 91,921 hectares of land under potato cultivation this season. Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said the farmers have already completed harvest and produced over 18.16 lakh tonnes of potato exceeding its fixed production target by over 10,000 tonnes in the region this season.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangla-desh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and other organisations and departments provided adequate quality potato seeds and inputs to the farmers. Noted potato exporter and President of Rangpur District Potato Growers Association Mohammad Khwaja Ahmed said We have already exported 10,000 tons of potato to Malaysia and some other countries at the exporting price rate of 250 US $ per ton so far and the export would be higher this time from the Rangpur region alone, he said.
Khwaja expressed his confidence that the nation might earn millions of US dollars by exporting potato to Malaysia, Singapore, Russia and many other countries in future if the current export-friendly situation prevails constantly. President of Rangpur Chamber Abul Kashem said export of potato as well as potato products might be increased by and large, if adequate potato-based agro-industries and preservation facilities were set up in Rangpur region.
