Joypurhat potato being exported abroad

JOYPURHAT, Feb 27: Potato produced in Joypurhat district is being exported abroad after meeting local demand.

A good number of farmers said they are happy as they get repeated bumper yield of the popular vegetable. "But we cannot enjoy the fair price of our produce. Middlemen purchase potato from the farmers at a cheap rate and sell those at a high price."

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources, Granola, Mujica, Diamond, Astorica, Cardinal and Rojeta are most popular potato varieties among the growers in the district.

Growers have recently started harvesting potato as the cultivation started in December last year. Over 65,000 hectares of land were brought under the farming of the item in the district with the production target of 70,000 tonnes.

Over 40,000 tonnes of potato are generally sent out from the area, DAE sources added.

"I have cultivated potato on five bighas of land this season and started harvesting the produce recently," said farmer Alim Uddin under Khetlal upazila. "I am expecting to make Tk 0.15 million profit", he added.

Sources said wholesale traders purchase potato direct from the cultivators and start processing to export those.

Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, China and Middle Eastern countries are the main buyers, trader Zobbar Hossain of Khetlal upazila said.

Deputy Director of DAE Meftahul Bari said, "We provided all sorts of support to the farmers to make the potato farming programme a success this season."

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