Pilot programme on the production of Japanese sweet potato (Kokie-14GO variety) had become successful in Gobindaganjupazila of the district during the current season.

Office sources said, Upazila Agriculture Office under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had set up 15 demonstration plot on 9 acres of land in the field level of the upazila for the first time during the current season under Tuber Crop Development Project of the DAE.

The harvest of the variety had already started and it would continue till April 30. To see the production of the variety the local farmers are so much happy and are showing their Keen interest to farm the variety on their land in next seasons as from 85 to 90 maunds of sweet potatoes are produced from a bigha of land, said an official of the upazila agriculture office.

Upazila Agriculture officer Md. Khaledur Rahman said, the sweet potatoes of Japanese variety has the much nutritional values as it contains rich in fiber, potassium and Vitamin A and C. It has also been rumored to keep the skin of the human bodies looking young.

The variety per day prevent constipation and also increases satisfaction with bowel movements, he said adding that a diabetic patient can eat the variety to keep his or her cholesterol under control.

Very recently, a field day on the harvest of the variety was held at Parsonaidanga village under Rakhalburuj union of the upazila.

Deputy director of the DAE here, agriculturist Masudur Rahman attended the function and addressed it as the chief guest.

Speaking on the function DD of the DAE urged the local farmers to farm the variety on their land at larger scale to get desired output and to earn economic profit through farming the variety as the price of per maund of sweet potato is satisfactory and acceptable to the farmers.

Terming the soil and weather are very suitable to farm the variety, the farmers were advised to farm the variety for earning much economic profit through farming this as the produced sweet potatoes would be exported to Japan through an NGO Naruto Japan which is working in Bangladesh.

The company would purchase per maund (40 kgs) of the variety from the farmers each at TK 480, Sources said.

If the local people consume it, resistant power would be built at their human body because the variety is fulfilled of much nutritional values such as beta carotene, vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin5 and Vitamin6 which can help build a healthy nation.

The Japanese sweet potatoes are also high in antioxidants and healthier than a white potato, he added.

In reply to a query the DD agriculturist Masudur Rahman said, besides this, a number of demonstration plots were also set up in Shaghataupazila of the district at the initiative of the upazila agriculture office during the current season to motivate and inspire the farmers to farm the variety at larger scale in the upazilain coming season aimed at helping the farmers earn economic profit to change their lots. Gradually.

Field level sub assistant agriculture officers (SAAOs) of the DAE were imparted need base training to make the farming of the variety a grand success in farmer’s level from the project, he concluded.