Low production frustrates potato growers in Rangpur

OUR CORRESPONDENT
RANGPUR, Mar 18: The potato growers of Rangpur district have been disappointed as its production has declined drastically this season.
Farmers have alleged that severe cold and dense fog are the reasons behind the low production of their produce.
Sources have said more than 80 per cent harvest of potato has already been completed in the district.
But, the growers are worried about low production compared to last year's.
Farmers fear that they will not get their expected profit due to the low production of their produce.
This year potato has been cultivated on 53,930 hectares of land in eight upazilas of the district. Last year, potato was cultivated on 53,550 hectares of land, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Rangpur.
After getting a good production and a high price of the crop last year, the cultivators increased the cultivation of potato this year with the hope to achieve an excellent yield as well as good profit.
But, their hope got shattered because of a massive fall in potato production for an inclement weather.
Solaiman Mia, a potato cultivator at Uttam Baniapara of Rangpur Sadar upazila, told The FE that he cultivated potato on six acres of land this year.
He said last year per acre potato production was around 10,000 kg, but this year production has dropped to 7,500 kg which is 2,500 kg less than that of the previous year.
The farmer also said he sold the potato at Tk 0.12 million (1. 27 lakh) this season, which production cost was about Tk 0.1 million (1 lakh).
Talking to The Financial Express, a number of farmers have alleged that this year due to severe cold and dense fog, late blight disease has affected the potato fields.
Consequently, growers had to struggle a lot in order to combat the disease. They sprayed medicines frequently to overcome the adverse situation.
Eventually, the growers got low yield of their produce, farmers regretted.
Mizanur Rahman, a potato grower of Jaigirhat area of Mithapukur Upazila in the district, told The FE that he cultivated potato on around one acre of land this year. He had to spend a lot this season for spraying medicines repeatedly on his late blight disease.
DAE Additional Director (Rangpur region) Md Obaidur Rahman Mandal said that potato growers were given necessary advice and assistance to get rid of late blight disease caused by intense cold and dense fog. [email protected]