Munshiganj: Farmers have already exceeded the potato cultivation target in the district by 403 hectares, reaching a total of 34,758 hectares, up from 34,355 hectares last year, with expectations of a record production of this essential kitchen vegetable. ‘The potato growers have made a record potato cultivation in the district as 34,758 hectares of land have been brought under potato farming,’ said Biplob Kumar Mohanto, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Munshiganj.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the cultivated land in the district includes 9,610 hectares in Munshiganj Sadar, 9,094 hectares in Tongibari, 1,950 hectares in Srinagar, 8,985 hectares in Sirajdikhan, 3,115 hectares in Louhajong, and 2,004 hectares in Gazaria. The potato production target has been set at over 1,045,000 tonnes and is expected to be exceeded this season.
Last year, potatoes were cultivated on 34,355 hectares of land, yielding around 1.2 million tonnes. With current favorable weather conditions, a surplus production of potatoes is likely if conditions remain optimal, as noted by a DAE official. Potato remains a main food crop in Bangladesh alongside rice and wheat, with the country averaging a production of 10 million metric tonnes of potatoes over the last few years.