Farmer Mokchhedul Haque Bhutta, 47, of West Fakirpara village in Hatibandha upazila, Lalmonirhat, has had a remarkable potato harvest: each tuber weighs about 400 grams.
Big tubers in 80 to 90 days
With favourable weather this year, potatoes can be lifted 80 to 90 days after planting. Some tubers in his field weigh as much as 500 grams, and he expects four maunds per decimal. He grew them on just 60 decimals, and people from the area have been visiting the field during harvest.
"I planted BARI 90 Alouette on 60 decimals, and each potato is over 400 grams," he said. "I'm very happy and will grow more next year." Neighbouring farmer Rezaul Karim said he had never seen potatoes so large in the area.
Local market and area
Other growers said last year's crop was large but prices were low; this year the tubers are big, yields lower and prices higher, with 65 maunds from 22 decimals. Potatoes sell at 35 to 40 taka a kilogram at retail. According to the Lalmonirhat agriculture department, the Rabi potato target was 6,300 hectares and 6,400 hectares were planted, as good prices last year drew farmers in.
Officials' view
Hatibandha agriculture sub-inspector Latiful Bari said the variety is harvested in 80 to 90 days, and the farmer got 101 maunds per bigha (27 decimals). It needs no spraying and suffers little disease.
Upazila agriculture officer Sumon Mia said this was the first time BARI 90 Alouette seed from the research laboratory was grown in that field, and the good yield will encourage farmers. The variety could yield 110 to 120 maunds per bigha, and the agriculture office is supporting the farmer.
Source: Jagonews24 (reported by Rabiul Hasan). First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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