Bumper production of sweet potato in Nilphamari

NILPHAMARI, Jan 26: Farmers and field level DAE officials are expecting bumper production of sweet potato in Nilphamari district in this season.
Favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agro inputs have created the situation. Low production cost and easy cultivation process have also encouraged sandy char (shoal) and river bed dwellers to cultivate the crop.
While contacted Abdur Rahman, a farmer of Itakhola Union Parishad (UP) of Sadar upazila said he cultivated the crop in one bigha of land in this season by spending Tk 5,000 including tillage of land, seed, fertiliser and so on and he is expecting to get 80 maunds of the product.
At present one maund (40 kg) of sweet potato is being sold at a price of Tk 1,000 in the retail markets.
Sources said, nutritive value of the crop is more than rice and wheat and its taste is delicious.
It contains vitamin A and C and needed mineral elements which are absent in rice and wheat. It is also enriched with protein, carbohydrate calcium, iron and so on which are essential for human body.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said this year's target of sweet potato cultivation in the district is in 250 hectares of land and production target is 4,000 tonnes.
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