The additional cost of farmers in potato cultivation in Jaipurhat is Tk 145 crores

 

The additional cost of farmers in potato cultivation in Jaipurhat is Tk 145 crores

Niren Das, Jaipurhat reporter:

This time, the additional cost of farmers in potato cultivation in Jaipurhat is Tk 145 crore. The work of planting potatoes has been completed in about 60 percent of the land.

The farmers of Joypurhat are worried about the cost of potato production due to the increase in the cost of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, irrigation and labour. According to the government, the production cost of potato per bigha of land last year was 28 thousand 614 taka. This time, due to the increase in the price of agricultural products, the production cost of one bigha land is falling to 33 thousand 614 taka. That is, compared to last year, the farmer has to pay an additional cost of five thousand taka for producing potatoes on one bigha of land.

According to that, farmers will have to spend Tk 145 crore 55 lakh 62 thousand 500 in potato production on 38 thousand 815 hectares of land in the district. According to the agriculture department, despite the increase in the cost of production, the farmers will benefit by cultivating potatoes due to the demand. However, if the yield and price are not high in proportion to the cost of production, farmers fear loss in potato cultivation.

Jaipurhat District Agriculture Extension Directorate has informed that the target of potato cultivation in the district has been set at 38 thousand 815 hectares.

Last year, 9 lakh 20 thousand 760 metric tons of potatoes were produced from 38 thousand 625 hectares of land in the district. Among the five upazilas of the district, the highest potato production is in Khetlal and Kalai upazilas. Again early varieties of potatoes are cultivated in Sadar, Akkelpur and Panchbibi upazilas. In the district, potato planting has already been completed in about 60 percent of the land.

Compared to last year, the price of different types of chemical fertilizers has increased by five rupees per kg. Last year BADC's Asteric and Diamond varieties of potato seeds were priced at Tk 48 per kg. This time the price has been set at 58 rupees. Again, private potato seeds are being sold at higher prices. ACI and BRAC's Asteric and Diamond varieties of potato are selling at Tk 68 to Tk 70 per kg, compared to Tk 58 to Tk 60 last year.

The additional cost of farmers in potato cultivation in Jaipurhat is Tk 145 crores

The price of seeds of other private companies is also higher than BADC's potato seeds. As the yield is high, there is a high demand for BRAC and ACI company's potato seeds in the market. The cost of labor has also increased. Last year, the workers planted potatoes per bigha with a contract of Tk 2,800, but this time they are not planting potatoes at the previous price. The workers are taking three and a half thousand rupees per bigha. Again, the workers are taking Tk 500 more per bigha during harvesting. As the price of diesel is high, instead of 800 taka, per bigha cultivation cost is being taken at 1000 taka. Apart from this, the price of pesticides and water is also high. As a result, the cost of potato production in one bigha (33 cents) of land is 33 thousand 614 taka. Where 28 thousand 614 rupees were spent last year. That is, the production cost of potato has increased by at least five thousand rupees per bigha.

Farmer Mosiur Rahman of Burail village of Kshetlal upazila of Joypurhat district said, "When the potato season starts, the price of everything increases. Due to the increase in the price of everything, every bigha of potato production is incurring an additional cost of 7 to 8 thousand rupees.

Hamidul Islam, a farmer of Talshan village, said, "Last year, the workers took Tk 2,800 for planting potatoes per bigha of land, but this time they are not working below Tk 3,500." The price of seeds is also high. After spending so much money, if the price of potatoes is not available, then it will be a loss.

Alim, a marginal farmer of Belgari village, said, "We do not get any profit by spending extra money and sweating our feet and growing potatoes." Cost somehow. We are farmers, we have to cultivate regardless of profit or loss.

Fertilizer and seed dealer Dulal Mia of Battali market of Kshetlal upazila and many others said, "There is no shortage of fertilizer and seeds in the market. Even if the price is high, farmers are happy to get supply as per demand. But there is some scarcity of seeds. ACI and BRAC companies demand more potato seeds than BADC in the district.

Meanwhile, Jaipurhat District Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Rahela Parveen said, 'The target of potato planting in the district has been set at 38 thousand 815 hectares. In the meantime, potatoes have been planted in 34 thousand 500 hectares of land. This official also said that the production of potatoes will be more than the target in Jaipurhat district as the farmers are interested in potato cultivation despite the increase in production cost.