1. USAID gives hope to the farmers through agri-business
training on quality seed potato production
USAID United States Agency for International Development
www.usaid.gov
Potato farmers increase income in Bangladesh
“I am real farmer by inherited; mainly I grew
rice and vegetable except seed potato. This the
first time I cultivated seed potato with the
financial support by US government and
technical assistance of CIP and BARI scientists.
Regular supervise by BRAC staff I could able to
success in seed potato production package
though USAID horticulture project”
Abul Latif Howlader was brief this statement
which was common in southern famers of
Bangladesh. Southern part of Bangladesh was
not potato zone but he was motivated by this
program and took it as challenge. He lived in
village Dehergati, under Babugonj upazila where
more than 25 farmers were received this USAID’s
program, and all were success. During potato
harvesting, if anyone had gone in fields he feels
he was in sea of potato. The farmers of village
couldn’t believe to see yield of potato. Other
farmers of his communities were offering
advanced money to him as seed potato for next
year cultivation. Latif has decided to grow in
order to feed his family and generate income to
send his children to school.
Latib was selected farmer under this program of
quality seed potato production through seed
plot technique funded by USAID Horticulture
Project, helped by CIP/AVRDC Bangladesh and
implanted by international NGO namely Brac.
The opportunities by growing seed potato
production at farmer field, he had gotten more
benefits than ware potato production. He
understood seed potato business could change
his life and increase more income than other
crops. He promised he will be continuing.
“ After joining the USAID quality see potato
production program with the help of
international Potato Center implement by
international leading NGO brac, I really
success and dramatic change in my life
which increase my income as well as
nutrition.”
Latif was the farmer’s leader of potato
grower in his village.
Latif received two times quality trainings and
all input cost of production including 100 kg
seeds from this program and followed all
instructions according training module, the
total yield was 1200 kg from his 10 decimal
lands. Among his harvested potao, he
distributed 300 kg to his relatives; 300 kg for
own consumed, 400 kg sold as non-seed and
200 kg kept for his own use as seed for next
year.
The increase of income can develop his
nutrition. Latif now he was respected as
seed potato production expert in his village.
Success
Story
Latib holds some of the seed
potatoes he grew from his field.
Photo: Syful Islam, BRAC, Barisal