Barguna farmers cultivating potato with hope of making profits
With the hope of making huge profits that they made last year, the farmers in the district are now passing busy time planting potato seedlings on their land.
The farmers without any hassle can cultivate potatoes on their land this year due to favorable weather as well as the availability of agri-inputs such as fertilizer and seeds.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the cultivators are engaged with their full efforts and resources as the profit margin of potato cultivation was high last year.
The DAE has set a target to cultivate potatoes on 975 hectares of land in the district this year. Of the total, potatoes will be cultivated on 140 hectares of land in Barguna Sadar upazila, 540 hectares in Patharghata, 35 hectares in Bamna, 128 hectares in Betagi, 62 hectares in Amtoli, and 70 hectares in Taltoli upazila. Farmers have already cultivated potatoes on 159 hectares of land in 6 upazilas of the district and they are hoping that they will be able to cultivate rest of the land within a few days. Altaf Hawladar, a resident of Chawra village under Amtali upazila, told BSS that he is cultivating potatoes on his land as farming of the vegetable is more profitable than other agri-produces. "With the suggestion of the Department of Agricultural Extension, we are putting our best efforts into cultivating potatoes... Apart from this, the availability of seeds and fertilizer at reasonable prices makes the cultivation easier for us," he added. Another farmer, Aktaruzzaman, said, "The weather is still favorable, so we are trying to finish cultivation of potatoes as soon as possible." "I made a huge profit by selling the potatoes on my land last year; that’s why I am expanding cultivation of potatoes this year," he said. Director of DAE Dr. Abu Syed Md. Jobaidul Alam said potato cultivation has increased in the district as farmers are getting higher prices year-round. "There is no shortage of seeds in the district, and the department is working so that farmers get seeds and other agri-input at a fair price," he said.
He said agriculture officials are working in the field constantly to advise farmers on potato cultivation.
"This year high-quality potato seeds were mainly distributed among the farmers in the district," he added.
He expressed hope that if the weather remains favorable, there will be a bumper yield of potatoes in the district this year.
Fuente: bssnews.net
