The farmers of Kurigram district are gaining by cultivating of potato in the current Robi season. They are harvesting and selling potato in the markets of early variety with satisfactory prices.

Most of the farmers in the district have been cultivated potato after harvesting of Aman in the same land. They are nursing and spraying pesticides causing the potato plants are growing fast.Two kinds of potatoes have been cultivated which are ufshi and local variety.

Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension official sources said a total of 7000 hectares of land have been targeted for potato cultivation in the current Robi season.All the nine upazila wise break up are some 945 hectares of land of ufshi and 40 hectares of local variety in KurigamSadar upazila,840 hectares of ufshi and 190 hectares of local variety in Ulipur upazila,75 hectares of ufshi and 40 hectares of local variety in Chilmari upazila,30 hectares of ufshi and 10 hectares of local variety in Roumari upazila,35 hectares of ufshi and 10 hectares of local variety in Char Rajibpur upazila,380 hectares of ufshi and 50 hectares of local variety in Bhurungamari upazila,820 hectares of ufshi and 110 hectares of local variety in Nageswari upazila,850 hectares of ufshi and 45 hectares of local variety in Fulbariupazila and 2510 hectares ofufshi and 20 hectares of local variety in Rajarhatupazila. In average production Ufshi of 26.70 metric tons and local variety of 14.00 metric tons in per hectare. Target to produce 2.84 lakh tons of potato in the district. Around 2.84 lakh tons of potatoes are expected to be produced from 7000 hectares of land in the district during the current Rabi season.

The newly harvested potatoes are appearing in the local wholesale and retail markers with lucrative prices.

The potato buyer Mahbub 61 of Dakbanglapara of Kurigram municipality area told this correspondent that I have purchased new arrival of potato at Tk 60 per kg.The farmers are getting lucrative market prices for their produce this season.

NuruzzamanBepari 58 of village Shibram under Kathalbari union of KurigramSadarupazila told that he has cultivated potato on his five bighas of land and he is expected for better profit.

Agriculturist Abdul Mazid said the field level officials, experts and other organizations concerned have been providing necessary instructions to the farmers to make their upcoming farming a total success.