Bumper potato yield brings smile on Lalmonirhat farmers' face

LALMONIRHAT, Mar 29: Bumper potato output with its fair price during the current season has brought smile on faces of the farmers in the district. Thousands of potato growers, mostly youths cultivated potato taking a three-month lease on land.
Visiting some areas in Sadar upazila of the district, it has been learnt that per bigha of land is rented for three months at Tk 5-6 thousand. After taking lease, many unemployed youths commercially cultivate potato.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, farmers have cultivated potato on 6,100 acres of land in five upazilas of the district. This year young farmers were interested in potato farming as they rented land cheaply. After harvesting, they are sending potato to local cold storage to preserve their produce.
Alam Uddin, a young farmer of Guriadhaha village under Gokunda union said, "I have rented three bighas of land at Tk 15 thousand. I have cultivated potato because the production cost is less than other crops and it is more profitable."
Moshiur Rahman, another farmer of the same village said, "I have cultivated three bighas of land this year and the yield is very good. I spent Tk 60 thousand on land renting, seeds and fertilisers. I am expecting 180-200 sacks of potato (60 kg per sack) to earn Tk 135,000."
Rafiujjaman, a young farmer of the same village, said he cultivated 10 bighas of land this year spending nearly Tk 0.25 million (2.50 lakh). The potato production is very satisfactory. He is very much happy and expecting to earn Tk 0.6 million (6 lakh) by selling potato.
Deputy Director (DD) of Lalmonirhat DAE Shamim Ashraf said, "The weather was very much favorable for potato farming. Sudden rain at the last time brings smile on farmers' face. The yield is very good due to favorable weather conditions. Apart from this, we are giving all-out support to the farmers for using modern technology, quality seeds and pesticides."

ahasnathrana@yahoo.com