RANGPUR, Oct 27, 2021 (BSS) - The Department of Agricultural Extension
(DAE) has fixed a target of producing 22,64,596 tonnes of potato from 97,125
hectares of land for all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region during
the current Rabi season.

     The DAE officials said farmers already started sowing early varieties of
potato seeds after harvesting short duration varieties of Aman rice from
early this month to harvest those from the end of November and earn more
profits.

     Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Bidhu
Bhusan Ray said the process of sowing potato seeds will get momentum with the
progress in Aman rice harvesting and continue till December next.

     The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC),
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and other agriculture-
related organisations have already started assisting farmers to make the
intensive potato farming program a success.

     "Tender plants of early varieties of potato are growing fabulously amid
favourable climatic conditions," Ray said.

     Talking to BSS, farmers Hafizur Rahman, Dulal Chandra, Ariful Haque,
Aiyub Ali and Mpminur Rahman of different villages in Rangpur Sadar upazila
said they are sowing early varieties of potato seeds after harvesting short
duration Aman rice from the second week of October.

     Farmers Abdur Rahman, Fazlul Haque and Solaiman Ali of Mithapukur
upazila in Rangpur said they have already completed sowing of early varieties
of potato seeds and are expecting to harvest their cultivated potato from
late November next.

     Meanwhile, farmers Abu Bakar Siddique, Raihan Ali, Pronoy Paul, SEkender
Ali and Mahtab Hossain of Saddyapuskorini union in Rangpur said they would
start sowing late varieties of potato seeds on their croplands after
harvesting Aman rice from late November.

     Vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar and Fazlur Rahman
at Keranipara Kitchen Market in the city said early varieties of potato might
appear from the middle of November next in local markets.

     Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid today told BSS the DAE, BADC and other
organisations are providing quality potato seeds to farmers for successful
potato cultivation.

     "Field level officials of the DAE, other agriculture-related
organisations and some NGOs are providing latest technologies to farmers for
proper sowing of potato seeds and nursing tender potato plants to get maximum
yield," Rashid added.

     Agriculturist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Award-2018
(food security), appreciated various initiatives taken by the government to
assist farmers in enhancing production of potato and other Rabi crops.

     Talking to BSS, President of Rangpur Chamber Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury
Titu stressed on setting up of agri-industries for preserving and producing
potato products and enhancing export of potato and potato products to make
potato farming more profitable for farmers.