Agriculture experts at a discussion here on Saturday afternoon called
upon the farmers for storing potato under natural condition at the
lowest cost at their homesteads up to five months period to earn more
profits.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, organised the discussion on the
occasion of a farmers’ field day in village Rajendrapur under Sadar
upazila to disseminate the newly evolved ‘Technology of Potato Storage
under Natural Condition’ in rural areas.
RDRS Bangladesh and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural
University (BSMRAU) with the financial assistance of Krishi Gobeshona
Foundation are implementing the technology to increase potato
storability under natural condition.
Associate Professor of the Department of Horticulture of BSMRAU Dr
Mohammad Azizul Hoque evolved the new technology for storing up to
8,000 kilogram potato for five months at specially built house with 12
feet length, 10 feet breadth and 12 feet height. District Training
Officer of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Ali Azam
attended the discussion arranged at homestead of farmer Ashrafuzzaman
in the village as the chief guest with Councilor of Rangpur City
Corporation Anwarul Islam in the chair.
Associate Professor of the Department of Horticulture of BSMRAU Dr
Mohammad Azizul Hoque and Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of
RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid took part in the discussion as the main
resource persons.
Farmers Ashrafuzzaman and Ataur Rahman also spoke on the occasion
narrating the tremendous benefits they are getting through storing
potato in the small houses built for the purpose at their homesteads
using the technology.
A number of the Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers of the DAE, male
and female farmers of the locality, public representatives, community
leaders, teachers and local elite were present on the occasion. The
speakers said construction of such storing house need Taka 25,000 for
preserving up to 8,000 kilogram potato and such houses last for at
least three consecutive years to preserve a total of 24,000 kilogram
potato.
The technology enables the framer to preserve potato at the cost of
Taka one per kilogram when they require to pay Taka 6 per kilogram for
the same purpose on an average while storing the same in the cold
storages, they said. -BSS, Rangpur
