Early potatoes: Tk 20k cost per bigha, sold at Tk 60/kg for Tk 52k profit in 60 days

A farmer in Kanthali union of Jaldhaka upazila, Nilphamari, grew the early Genola variety of potato on 60 decimals (2 bigha) of land in the 2020 season. Irrigation, fertiliser, seed, making ridges, harvesting and transport together cost Tk 19,000–20,000 per bigha. One bigha (30 decimals) yielded 30 maunds. At the time, demand for old potatoes on the market was falling and new potatoes were fetching high prices; he sold at Tk 60 a kilo, that is Tk 2,400 a maund, and received Tk 72,000. By his reckoning, his profit after costs was Tk 52,000 in 60 days. Another farmer, in Kishoreganj upazila of the same district, grew early potatoes on 1.5 bigha, got 26 maunds from one bigha and sold them at Tk 55 a kilo for Tk 57,200; after costs of Tk 11,000 per bigha, his profit was Tk 46,200. According to the report, farmers had turned to early potatoes on high land because they were not getting a fair price for paddy and to make up for losses to other crops from floods and continuous rain. The yield of early potatoes is lower than in the normal season (here 26–30 maunds per bigha); the profit comes mainly from the higher prices obtained at the start of the season.