Bangladesh: potato seed shortage

The cultivation of potato as a cash crop has increased in eight northern districts over the years. Over one lakh hectares of land is used by farmers for production of potatoes. They have started using quality seeds and other inputs for higher output. They plant potato seeds in the month of Agrahayan or November and that for optimising the use of their land during the dry season.

Farmers in the districts of Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur have opted for production of potato including sweet potato in preference to other crops. They have increased production that may be reaching the ultimate target of sixteen lakh and thirty-five thousand tonnes. They find the production of potatoes more profitable and meet the demands of rural and urban consumers.

The demand for potato seeds in the eight districts in reported to be over one lakh and fiftyfive thousand tonnes in the current year. The seed marketing wing of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) along with some NGOs and local agents usually work for timely supply of potato seeds. As reported in a section of the press, these official agencies meet up to 30 percent the demand for seeds. The rest of the demand for potato seeds is supplied by major producers of potato and the local companies having cold storage facilities.

The month of November is almost over and the demand for seeds still remains to be met under the current procedures. The price of seed potato has risen to around eighteen hundred Taka per bag with around forty kilograms of potato. Official agencies have quoted price of such seeds at Taka one thousand for B-grade seeds and Taka one thousand four hundred for A-grade seeds. The price of potato seeds has increased around four times the price recorded in the past year.

Local farmers, who used to supply quality seeds before, have already sold their stocks obtaining good margin of profit. Those dealing with the supply of potato seeds are found demanding higher prices. Farmers, with no fiscal support from banks and NGOs, have decided to reduce the area under potato cultivation. That being so, potato output may fall in the current season.

The farmers should be provided with financial support from banks and NGOs and that for enabling them to buy potato seeds and plant the same in the targeted farm lands with a view to guarding against production shortfall.

Source: nation.ittefaq.com