Farmers in Hili, Dinajpur, are busy planting early potato varieties on fields just cleared of aman rice. Many lost money on potatoes last year and hope a good price for the early crop will make up for it.
Hakimpur upazila agriculture officer Arjena Begum said early potato planting began in the upazila last week, and about 80 hectares have been planted so far in Khattamadhabpara union. These varieties can be lifted in 50 to 55 days, and she expects good yields if farmers follow the agriculture department's advice.
In Khattamadhabpara farmers were ploughing harvested aman land and planting potatoes. Because the supply of other potatoes is low at this time, early potatoes can fetch a good price; but last year many farmers did not get the price they expected and lost money.
Local farmer Ruhul Amin is planting a bigha and a half and hopes this year's yield and price will recover last year's loss. Many farmers say seed potatoes that cost Tk 800 last year now cost Tk 1,200, and fertiliser, fuel and wages have also risen.
So even with a good yield, farmers fear another loss if the market does not give a fair price. How early potato prices hold will decide this season's sums.
The report was filed by Krishi Shomoy's Dinajpur correspondent.
Photo: A potato field in Bangladesh, sakib454590 / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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