Potatoes in Rangpur region have started to come in the markets. Farmers of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari, known as the area of potato cultivation, cultivated potato after harvesting Aman paddy. However, in spite of various adversities, the prices are not matching this time as compared to other years by cultivating potatoes in advance. Potato farmers are very disappointed due to not getting proper prices.
New paddy in the yard and early potato care work is going on in the field. Farmers do not have time to catch their breath. With the harvesting of short-term varieties of Aman paddy, early planting of potatoes in the Rangpur region, including the chars of the Teesta River, has begun. Especially in Kishoreganj of Nilphamari, it is as if the excitement has returned to the field surrounding the premature potato picking.
According to the Department of Agriculture, potato has become the cash crop of Rabi season in Rangpur region. Besides, bumper potato crop is being grown in Gangachara, Pirgachha and Kaunia upazilas of Rangpur. Potato is being cultivated in more than 20,000 hectares of land in these three upazilas. In which, potato is produced in advance in about eight thousand hectares of land in Teesta Chars. Char Chawla, Char Tambulpur, Shivdev and Rahmat Chars of Pirgachha Upazila of Rangpur, Ischli Chars of Gangachara, Shankardah, Jayramojha and Gadai and Dhushmara Chars of Kaunia can be seen.
It is learned that farmers of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari have been cultivating potato in advance as a winter crop (Rabi season) after harvesting Aman paddy for several years in the hope of making more profit. To cultivate these potatoes, they cultivate short-term and early varieties of Aman paddy. Aman paddy is being threshed in the field now. But in Kishoreganj, after cutting the paddy in advance, the farmers have planted potatoes in that land in advance. That potato is currently on the market. At the beginning of the season, this new potato leaves the local market and goes to different parts of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram. That is why in the last few years, Kishoreganj of Nilphamari has become known as the advance potato production area. Farmers also benefit as these potatoes are sold at higher prices in advance at the beginning of the season. In this way, farmers can cultivate potato twice in the same land in the same season.
Various areas of Magura, Ranchandi and Baravita Unions of Kishoreganj can be seen on the ground. It is as if these areas have regained their vitality after the early potato uplift. 8/10 workers were tending the potato field planted in Shahin Mia field of Baravita village. Farmer Shahin Mia, who was with him, said, "If potatoes could be picked up in the market in advance, they would be sold at Tk 50-60 per kg." But this year the price is lower. In the area, Abdur Rauf's three bighas, Abdul Hamid's two bighas, Hashem Ali's three bighas and many others have picked up and sold the pre-planted potatoes.
Rezaul Karim, a farmer from South Baravita area, said he planted a hybrid variety of Aman paddy called 'Aloran' on his 1.5 bighas of land. At the end of 106 days, after harvesting paddy on 21 September, he prepared the land and planted ‘Sagita’ variety of potato on 11 October. Whose lifespan is 45 to 50 days. He also hoped to plant potatoes in the land in the second phase.
Read more: Munshiganj farmers busy with potato cultivation
According to Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Office, transplanted aman paddy has been cultivated in about 15,000 hectares of land in nine unions of Kishoreganj this year. Of these, early and short-term varieties of paddy have been cultivated in more than three thousand hectares of land. Potatoes have been planted in those lands in advance as the cutting has been completed. Sources further said that last year potato was cultivated in 6,140 hectares of land in the upazila.
In advance, potato is cultivated in three thousand hectares. This year, potatoes will exceed three and a half thousand hectares in advance. Farmers will cultivate potatoes in the second phase by lifting the planted potatoes in 50 to 60 days.
