Model house of potato storage inaugurated in Rangpur

Senior Staff Reporter, Rangpur :
There has been a silent revolution in potato production in Bangladesh. In 2021-2022, potato production has increased 26 times and per capital potato consumption has increased 10 times compared to 1995-1996 fiscal year. In 1980, potato production in the country was only 9 lakh metric tons and in 2021-22 fiscal year, about 110.00 million metric tons of potatoes were produced on 4.68 lakh hectares of land. But against the total production in the whole country, the amount of cold storage facilities is only 30.58 lakh MT. The consumption demand in the country is about 77 lakh MT.
At present, the production cost of potato per kg is Tk 9.50 and the rent of cold storage is Tk 6.00 along with the cost of transportation, cost of sacks, loading-unloading, weighing and bank loan interest payments, the potato farmers sell potatoes for less than Tk 25.00. can’t be Almost always exposed to losses. Due to higher production compared to demand, high costs of cold storage, lack of storage space in homesteads and need for cash, potato growers are forced to sell potatoes at low prices almost every season.
In order to overcome this situation, through the 03 (three) year (2015-2018) “Potato Storage, Processing and Marketing Program” implemented and completed by the Directorate of Agriculture Marketing, 25 domestic projects in homesteads in 40 upazilas of 11 districts that produce more potatoes. ?40 model potato storage houses of 15 feet size were constructed. Experiments show that potatoes stored in model houses remain in good condition for 3/4 months and farmers benefit from off-season sales.
Through this Dharabhatikaya-Potato Multipurpose Use, Storage and Marketing Development Project, initiatives have been taken to encourage the construction of similar houses by constructing 450 non-refrigerated model houses in 16 districts at low cost in households, demonstrating and expanding potato conservation techniques. Besides, with the aim of increasing the internal demand of potatoes, multi-faceted activities will be undertaken to increase multi-purpose use and make people aware of the nutritional value and develop potato processing entrepreneurs. 01 set of potato processing machinery of 11 items of potato processing will be supplied to the interested entrepreneurs. In order to increase the export of potatoes, in addition to the conventional varieties of potatoes, the recently developed exportable varieties Santana, Queen Anne, Prada, Sunshine and other varieties of potatoes will be arranged to connect with the members of the farmer marketing team formed with the aim of increasing the export. Under the said project, Mr. Omar Md Imrul Mohsin, Director General of Agriculture Marketing Directorate, inaugurated the program of potato storage in the model house built in Baradargah market of Pirgacha Upazila of Rangpur district on March 08, 2023 AD.
An exchange meeting was held with the members of the farmer marketing team of the potato producers, entrepreneurs and potato traders on the potato conservation program in the model house. Also present in the meeting were Md. Anwarul Haque, project director of the project, Md. Mojibur Rahman, Deputy Director (Administration and Accounts) of Directorate of Agriculture Marketing, Md. Nazmul Haque Sumon, Executive Officer of Pirgacha Upazila, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Directorate of Agricultural Extension, Md. Habibur Rahman, Upazila Awami League President Mr. Md. Taslim Uddin, No. 1 Kalyani UP Chairman Md. Noor Alam. Md. Shamsur Rahman, Deputy Director of Agriculture Marketing Department of Rangpur Division presided over the meeting. The meeting was attended by potato farmers, members of farmers marketing team, entrepreneurs and traders.