RANGPUR, June 10, 2020 (BSS) – In the just ended Rabi season, 38,708
tonnes of sweet potato exceeding its fixed production target was
produced in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said
they fixed up a target of producing 36,088 tonnes of sweet potato
cultivating 1,935 hectares of land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram,
Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts in the region during the season.
The farmers had cultivated the crop on 1,685 hectares of land, less
by 250 hectares than the fixed target due to crop diversification and
cultivation of winter vegetables, maize and potato on more land this
time.
However, the farmers have produced 38,708 tonnes of sweet potato,
higher by 2,620 tonnes than the fixed production target, following
cultivation of high yielding varieties of the crop and got an average
yield rate of 22.97 tonnes per hectare.
According to the market sources, the farmers are happy getting fair
price of their harvested sweet potato between Taka 800 and 1,000 per
every 40 kg (mound) depending on varieties and qualities.
Additional director at the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist
Muhammad Ali said hundreds of farmers and char people are now
cultivating sweet potato on the mainland as well as vast tracts of the
sandy-barren and char lands in riverine areas.
“They are expanding cultivation of the low-cost crop without using
fertilisers and irrigation water on char lands which are suitable for
sweet potato cultivation,” Ali added.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Md. Mamunur Rashid said production of sweet potato could
be enhanced by imparting training, providing latest technologies and
easy-term agri-loans to char people.
“Sweet potato contains vitamin A and C and mineral elements, which
are absent in rice. It is enriched with protein, carbohydrate,
calcium, iron, carotene and vitamin B1 and B2, which are essential for
the human body,” he added.
Talking to BSS, noted Agriculturist Dr MA Mazid, who got
Independence Award 2018 in food security category in 2018, said the
sandy and sandy-loamy lands, char lands and riverbeds are suitable for
sweet potato cultivation.
“An adult person can meet daily demand of 13 gram vitamin-A by
consuming a single sweet potato,” he said.
The people living in the riverine char areas of Rangpur agriculture
region are cultivating sweet potato along with broadly consuming the
produce as alternative foodstuff like in many other countries.
He suggested the common people to increase sweet potato consumption
and reduce pressure on rice as sweet potato has the same carbohydrate,
more nutrient and vitamin than many other cereal crops like rice.