Potato planting is under way across Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj. The upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension said 1,038 hectares had been set for potatoes this season and about 450 hectares had been sown. Planting will continue through the month.
In the morning fog farmers are ploughing with tractors and power tillers, then planting seed in rows with their families, applying fertiliser and irrigating. In many fields potatoes went in as soon as the floodwater receded; those early plants are well grown and are now being sprayed. Farmers hope to profit by lifting early potatoes, as in other years.
Zahurul Islam of Charpara village is growing potatoes on one and a half bighas; one bigha is sown and he is planting the rest. Last year potatoes barely covered his costs, he said. This year costs are higher, and if prices stay where they were last year it will be hard to recover them.
Upazila agriculture officer Subarna Yasmin Sumi said farmers were being given regular advice and support in the field to reach the target. With favourable weather she expects a bumper harvest.
The report is by Krishi Shomoy's Ullapara (Sirajganj) correspondent.
Photo: Hridoye Mati O Manush / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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