Bad preservation of seeds dims prospects of good yield

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Potato growers in Munshiganj have been facing a crisis of quality seeds due to its improper preservation.

Farmers allege that cold stores in the district do not maintain the minimum temperature required to preserve seed potatoes, dimming the prospect of a good yield.

Cold store owners, on the other hand, claim they do not practise anything that can lower the quality of seeds. They, however, acknowledge that because of frequent power cuts it is often hard to keep temperature at the optimum level.

Munshiganj accounts for almost 40 percent of the country’s total potato production. The demand for potato seeds in the district is around 64 thousand tonnes a year. And of that, 90 percent come from the local cold stores. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), there are 74 cold stores in the district.

“Every year we have to look for good quality seeds as they make a huge difference to production,” said Mir Mohammad Sirajul Islam, a farmer having 31 years’ experience in potato cultivation.

“Cold store owners preserve all varieties of potatoes and seeds at the same temperature. In most cases, they do not bother to make special arrangements for seed preservation,” he said.

Azizul Haque, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Munshiganj, echoed the farmers’ view. He said seeds should be preserved at three to four degrees Celsius and potatoes for daily consumption at five to six degrees.

He, however, thinks bad preservation of seeds should not be blamed on cold store owners alone. Since separate arrangements cost them extra amount, most of the farmers opt to store seeds and ordinary potatoes together.

The district’s major potato growing areas like Kadishal, Taltoal, Kushumpur, Rashunia, Makahati and Mahakhali are faced with a shortage of quality seeds. Farmers there have to pay extra for good seeds that sell at prices ranging between Tk 1,800 and Tk 2,500 a sack (80 kg) this season. Last year, they cost Tk 700 to Tk 1,200.

Growers said the government should take the responsibility of providing them with quality seeds. If the administration owns a functional system, farmers would feel secure to preserve seeds.

Sirajul said potato growers of the district raised the issue to Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed when he was on a visit there recently.

Besides, they urged the agriculture adviser to set up a special cold store for potato seeds.

“We are hopeful about a positive response from the government,” said Nabi Hossain of Rashunia. The government should take the call for setting up special cold stores seriously as this area produces 10 lakh tonnes of potatoes every year, he said.

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