By Dr Aynal Haque

     RAJSHAHI, Feb 17, 2022 (BSS) - Vegetable farming, particularly seed-
potato, through tissue culture has brought a silent revolution in the
agricultural sector in Rajshahi region, including its vast Barind tract, for
the last couple of years.

     Scores of farmers of the region have built their fortunes through
growing quality crops especially potatoes through using tissue cultured
saplings.  

     To feed farmers with sterile saplings, more than 25 tissue culture
laboratories are now functioning commercially in Rajshahi. Farmers are
producing crops or vegetables by using these plantlets.  

     Already many farmers attained bumper production of potato, tomato,
strawberry, ban ana and gerbera flower after producing plantlets of those
through using tissue culture technology and many of them changed their
fortune.  

     "In addition to the government institutions, many private entrepreneurs
are showing interest to boost the mother potato- seed production locally,"
says Abdur Rahim, a farmer of Bargachhi village under Paba Upazila.

     He said the potato growers are very interested to cultivate potatoes
through using the foundation seeds as they have been reaping more yields.  

     Another farmer Golam Rasul from Godagari Upazila said the tissue culture
seeds are 100 percent virus and disease free, healthy, high quality and
environment-friendly in addition to comparatively higher-yielding and
hygienic.

     ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose
Development Authorities, said there is a bright prospect of overcoming the
existing crisis of breeder potato-seed through successful expansion of tissue
culture technology.  

     Professor Dr Monzur Hossain of Department of Botany in Rajshahi
University depicted the salient features of the technology and mentioned that
potato production could be enhanced to at least 50 percent more on the
existing acreage if only the quality seed are ensured among the growers.  

     He said importance should be given on encouraging the farmers on the
best uses of the developed technology to enhance the quality of seeds
production.  

     "Qualitative and quantitative production completely depends on quality
seeds." To meet-up the local demands, the nation has to depend on imports
from abroad through spending huge hard-earned foreign currencies.  

     "We can reduce dependence on import enhancing domestic production
through proper and best uses of the modern technologies in the farming," he
said, adding that the tissue culture is one of the potential and proven
technologies.

     Khayer Uddin Mollah, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE), said the private entrepreneurs and farmers have been showing
their keen interest in producing the potato-seed after using the tissue
culture technology.  

     He added that there has been a tremendous demand for tissue cultured
saplings in Rajshahi. Not only farmers, but also many educated youths,
business personnel and traders have become self-reliant by using tissue
cultured saplings in this region, he added.

     Meanwhile, around 33.42 lakh tonnes of potato are expected to be
produced from 1.64 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts of the
division during the current Rabi season.  

     Official data showed the target of producing 13.11 lakh tonnes of potato
has been set from 61,590 hectares of land in four districts of Rajshahi
Agricultural Zone, while 20.31 lakh tonnes from 1.03 lakh hectares in four
other districts of Bogura zone.