ZCZC
BSS – 26
MATIA-SEED-POTATO
Govt to increase quality potato seed supply, says Matia
DHAKA, July 15, 2018 (BSS) – The government is working to increase
quality potato seed supply for the farmers by expanding the cold storage
facilities for around 60,000 tonnes potatoes by the year 2020-21.
“By expanding the cold storage facilities, the country will be able to
meet 10 per cent potato seed supply of the total demand within the next three
years,” Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told a function in the city
today.
She said this while inaugurating Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation (BADC’s) potato seed cold storage, central tissue culture
laboratory and green house in city’s Gabtoli area here this morning.
Matia said, “Bangladesh is now producing 1 crore tonnes of potatoes on 5
lakh hectares of land, however, the country has a demand of nearly 6 lakh
tonnes quality potato seeds annually”.
Currently, the agriculture minister said the BADC is supplying only 6
per cent quality potato seeds among the farmers against its total demand.
Matia said the basic potato seed import has significantly reduced in the
last three years since a total of 30 lakh potato platelets have been produced
locally, which significantly increased the quality of potato seed production
in the country.
On the other hand, the per hectare potato production has also increased
to 20 tonnes from its earlier 12 tonnes due to increased quality seed supply
at the farmers level, the minister told the function.
With BADC Chairman Mohammad Nasiruzzaman in the chair, local lawmaker M
Aslamul Haq and Senior Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Mainuddin Abdullah were
present as special guests.
BSS/ASG/OG/ARS/1717 hrs