Potato cultivation is gaining momentum across the Khulna agricultural region during the ongoing winter season, with farmers achieving 78 percent of the overall cultivation target so far. Photo: BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Potato cultivation is gaining momentum across the Khulna agricultural region during the ongoing winter season, with farmers achieving 78 percent of the overall cultivation target so far, driven by favourable weather, government support and strong market demand.

Meanwhile, early varieties of potatoes have started appearing in local markets across Khulna and other districts of the region. Due to increased demand, the newly harvested crop is selling at comparatively higher prices, ensuring good returns for farmers.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have set a target to produce 78,047 tonnes of potatoes from 3,591 hectares of land in the Khulna agricultural region this season.

In Khulna district, potato cultivation was targeted on 700 hectares with a production goal of 16,601 tonnes, while achievement stands at 67 percent so far.

In Bagerhat, the target was set on 579 hectares with a production target of 12,466 tonnes, and achievement has reached 68 percent.

In Satkhira, potatoes are being cultivated on 2,225 hectares with a production target of 47,170 tonnes, achieving 83 percent so far.

In Narail, the cultivation target was 87 hectares with a production target of 1,810 tonnes, and achievement has already reached 101 percent, exceeding the target.

According to DAE data, potato cultivation has already been completed on 469 hectares in Khulna, 395 hectares in Bagerhat, 1,856 hectares in Satkhira, and 88 hectares in Narail.

"Farmers have so far brought 2,808 hectares of land under potato cultivation in the region," said Agriculturist Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the DAE in Khulna, while talking to BSS.

He said sowing of potato seeds will continue until mid-February in both mainland and saline-prone areas of all four districts under the region.

Farmers are also harvesting early potato varieties cultivated after harvesting short-duration Aman rice on the same land since late November through early January, he added.

Islam said farmers are showing increased interest in potato cultivation following special incentives and assistance provided by the interim government, coupled with repeated bumper outputs in recent years.

The DAE, along with the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and other agriculture-related organisations, is supplying quality potato seeds and providing technical support to ensure successful cultivation.

"Despite the ongoing cold wave across the region, officials are providing farmers with the latest technologies and guidance for proper sowing, agronomic management and nursing of tender potato plants to ensure better yields," he said.

Farmers Hasan Ali, Solaiman Gazi, Harun-or-Rashid and Salman Rahman from different villages of Assasuni upazila in Satkhira said they are passing a busy time cultivating potatoes after harvesting Aman rice, expressing optimism about good returns this season.

Former Director of the Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jesan Bhutto emphasised the need to establish more agro-based industries for storage, processing and export of potato products to ensure fair prices and encourage farmers to expand cultivation.