Bangladesh’ administrative region Atrai has fixed a target of cultivating potatoes on approximately 2,800 hectares of land during this rabi season. As harvest time is approaching, the farmers of Atrai are toiling day and night in their potato fields, following the advice of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials.
Potatoes are mostly cultivated in Shahagola, Bhopara, Moniari and Ahsanganj. The farmers are expecting a bumper yield as the potato fields were not affected by any diseases this season, owing to direct technical support and regular recommendations provided by agriculture officials.
Akkas Ali, a farmer from Rasulpur village: “This season, I have cultivated potatoes on 0.67 ha of land. I preserved some seeds in cold storage, and bought the rest from the market. Seeing the crops on the field, it appears I will get a bumper yield.”
SultanurAlam from Bajrapur village has cultivated potatoes on almost 0.2 ha of land: “As the fields were not affected by any disease, or hit by any natural calamity, I hope to get bumper production."
Dhakatribune.com quoted Shafi Uddin Ahmed, agriculture officer of Vabanipur area of the upazila, as saying: “We are providing direct technical assistance and suggestions, whenever needed, to prevent any unwanted attack of disease. We are expecting a bumper yield as at present, the potato fields are almost 100 percent free of disease.”
