Jhalokathi, Jun 06, (V7N) - Farmers in Kathalia, Jhalokathi, are busy planting sweet potato vines. After a profitable harvest last season, they are once again eager to grow sweet potatoes. Currently, they are focused on planting vines and caring for the young sweet potato seedlings. Some farmers are also preparing their land for planting after harvesting rice.

According to the Kathalia Agricultural Office, the target for this season is to cultivate sweet potatoes on 66 hectares of land. Highland areas are particularly suitable for sweet potato farming. With favorable weather conditions, farmers are working diligently across the fields. The Kathalia Agricultural Office is providing full support and guidance to the farmers.

Sweet potato vines were planted soon after the monsoon water drained from the fields in various parts of the district, including the areas of South Kochua, Syedpur Kochua, Latabunia, Kochua, and Chanchery Rampur. In early Falgun, the sweet potatoes start to mature underground, and harvesting begins. Farmers will be busy harvesting the crop in Chaitra and Baishakh.

Sabbir Howlader, a sweet potato farmer from South Kochua, says, "I have cultivated sweet potatoes on 33 decimals of land this season. With favorable weather, I expect a good yield. Last year, I sold sweet potatoes at a wholesale price of 800 to 1000 taka per mound. I spent around 20,000 taka for planting vines and harvesting the crop. This year, I hope to earn over 100,000 taka from the harvest."

Fazlu Howlader, another farmer from South Kochua, shares, "In our area, we grow sweet potatoes alongside other crops. I have planted sweet potatoes on 33 decimals of land this year and do most of the work myself. I expect a good yield. Selling them is not difficult, as buyers come to collect them after harvest."

Farmer Mosharaf Hossain Mollah, who had previously grown other crops on his 20 decimals of land but didn’t get satisfactory yields, has now followed the agricultural office’s advice and planted sweet potatoes. He is hopeful of harvesting 50-60 mounds of sweet potatoes from this land, worth around 50,000 taka.

Before planting, he prepared the land using a power tiller, followed by applying organic manure, gypsum, urea, zinc, and potash fertilizers. The total cost, including purchasing seedlings, was around 6,500 taka. The seedlings, a variety called BARi-8, were obtained from the agricultural office.

Nur Nabi Talukdar, a farmer from West Aoura village in Kathalia, adds, "If successful, I will plant sweet potatoes again. After harvesting the sweet potatoes, I plan to grow another crop on the same land."

Farmer Sayed Ali Fakir from South Chanchery village says, "We were encouraged by the agricultural office to grow sweet potatoes. In the future, we plan to cultivate sweet potatoes on fallow land."

Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer, Zahidul Islam, says, "We are encouraging farmers to cultivate sweet potatoes on available land, including around their homes and on unused plots. We also advise them on using improved varieties to get a better yield."

Kathalia Upazila Agricultural Officer, Agriculturist Imran Bin, says, "Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A. They have a short cultivation period and yield well. Each acre can produce 100-130 mounds of sweet potatoes. It is a profitable crop with a good market price."

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