OUR CORRESPONDENT
CHANDPUR, Feb 24: Local farmers have cultivated sweet potato on a vast tract of land in the district this season to earn huge profits.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a total of 350 hectares of land have been brought into sweet potato cultivation in the district with a production target of 8,750 tonnes.
Talking to the FE, agriculturist Mobarak Hossain has said sowing sweet potato seeds has been completed recently.
Growers said they would start harvesting sweet potato at the end of March.
They also said agri experts are encouraging them in bringing more agri-lands into sweet potato cultivation. Sweet potato is cheap, but it has many nutritious values, he added.
According to nutritionist Prof Hafiza Mujib of Chandpur Puranbazar Degree College, "Sweet potato reduces the risk of deadly disease like cancer.
"It helps keep our eyes healthy, support immune system in human body, maintain heart health, lower blood pressure, helps with weight loss and promote a healthy brain."
It is also a good source of vitamin C, E and some other benefits of diabetes- 2 type.
During this correspondent's recent visit to rural areas in Chandpur Sadar, Matlab Dakhshin and Haimchar upazilas, not many farmers were seen to cultivate this potato on their agri land.
According to the DAE , a total of 110 hectares of land have been brought into sweet potato cultivation in Chandpur Sadar upazila with a yield target of 2,750 tonnes. In Matlab Uttar Upazila, 70 hectares of land have been brought into sweet potato cultivation and the yield is expected about 1,750 tonnes.
In Matlab Dakhshin Upazila, a total of 15 hectares have been brought into sweet potato cultivation and the yield is expected about 375 tonnes. In Hajiganj Upazila, 15 hectares have been brought into this crop and the yield is expected about 375 tonnes.
In Shahrasti Upazila, 10 hectares of land have been into sweet potato crop cultivation while the yield is expected about 250 tonnes.
In Kochua Upazila, a total of 10 hectares have been brought into this potato with a production target of 250 tonnes. In Faridganj Upazila, a total of 65 hectares of land have been brought into sweet potato farming with a production target of 1,625 tonnes. In Haimchar Upazila, a total of 55 hectares of land are in this potato cultivation while the yield is expected about 1,375 tonnes.
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