Farmers are very hopeful of superb production of potato in the Rajshahi region, as overall climatic conditions remains favorable during the cultivation period.
To recoup the loss incurred in the previous year caused by low market prices, the farmers have cultivated potato on more land in the current season than the target fixed by the Department of Agriculture Extension everywhere in eight districts under Rajshahi division.
Saleh Ahemd, upazila agriculture officer, said the farmers were expecting better yield as there were no major natural calamities that damaged the output.
However, the cold wave that has swept the region for the last couple of days makes the potato growers apprehensive over their farming.
Most of the growers’ harvested better yields of potato in last two or three years and managed to obtain expected sale proceeds in the harvesting stage.
“I had sold out an 85-kg potato bag at Taka 750 to 800 in previous season, but the price had declined abnormally afterwards. Many farmers incurred huge losses,” said Ziarul Haque, a farmer of Baya village under Paba upazila.
In that situation, many of them apprehended that the acreage might be reduced. However, that has not happened. To recoup the previous year’s loss, the farmers cultivated potato on more lands in this season, reports BSS.
Abdur Rahim, a farmer of Bargachhi village, said both acreage and yield were boosted up in the wake of favorable climatic condition and availability of standard seed in the region. This season, he along with his sons cultivated potato on pproximately 150 bigha of land.
“We are very much optimistic over our outcomes as the weather was absolutely supportive.”
