Govt plans incentives for potato farmers

The government plans to provide incentives to potato farmers following surplus production in the last season, said Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, adviser to the ministries of agriculture and home affairs.

The adviser shared the information while briefing journalists at the secretariat in the capital today.

He said potato production last season exceeded domestic demand, leaving farmers unable to secure fair prices for their produce.

Chowdhury noted that production of major agricultural commodities, including rice, potato, onion, vegetables, and mustard, has increased across the country.

“Rice production has risen by 6 percent year-on-year,” he said.

“Onion production increased by 22 percent, which has helped keep market prices stable.”

Vegetable production rose by 4 percent year-on-year, contributing to relatively stable prices, he added.

The adviser said mustard production recorded the highest growth, increasing by 86 percent.

He also mentioned that the stock of non-subsidised fertiliser this year is the highest since 1961.