In the just ended Rabi season, 38,708 tonnes of sweet potato exceeding its fixed production target was produced in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region. Officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said they fixed up a target of producing 36,088 tonnes of sweet potato
cultivating 1,935 hectares of land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts in the region during the season.
The farmers had cultivated the crop on 1,685 hectares of land, less by 250 hectares than the fixed target due to crop diversification and cultivation of winter vegetables, maize and potato on more land this time.
However, the farmers have produced 38,708 tonnes of sweet potato,n higher by 2,620 tonnes than the fixed production target, following cultivation of high yielding varieties of the crop and got an average yield rate of 22.97 tonnes per hectare.
According to the market sources, the farmers are happy getting fair price of their harvested sweet potato between Taka 800 and 1,000 per every 40 kg (mound) depending on varieties and qualities.
Additional director at the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said hundreds of farmers and char people are now
cultivating sweet potato on the mainland as well as vast tracts of the sandy-barren and char lands in riverine areas.
“They are expanding cultivation of the low-cost crop without using fertilisers and irrigation water on char lands which are suitable for
sweet potato cultivation,” Ali added.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Md. Mamunur Rashid said production of sweet potato could be enhanced by imparting training, providing latest technologies and easy-term agri-loans to char people.
“Sweet potato contains vitamin A and C and mineral elements, which are absent in rice. It is enriched with protein, carbohydrate,
calcium, iron, carotene and vitamin B1 and B2, which are essential for the human body,” he added.
Talking to BSS, noted Agriculturist Dr MA Mazid, who got Independence Award 2018 in food security category in 2018, said the sandy and sandy-loamy lands, char lands and riverbeds are suitable for sweet potato cultivation.
“An adult person can meet daily demand of 13 gram vitamin-A by consuming a single sweet potato,” he said.
The people living in the riverine char areas of Rangpur agriculture region are cultivating sweet potato along with broadly consuming the produce as alternative foodstuff like in many other countries.
He suggested the common people to increase sweet potato consumption and reduce pressure on rice as sweet potato has the same carbohydrate, more nutrient and vitamin than many other cereal crops like rice, reports BSS from Rangpur.
