Nabinagar (Brahmanbaria) Correspondent:
Japan’s famous Okinawa variety of sweet potatoes is gradually becoming popular in the pastures and uncultivated lands of Nabinagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria. Although cultivation has been started at the experimental and entrepreneurial level for the past three years, this potato cultivation has expanded to about 30 bighas of land this season. With the increasing interest of farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers, it has now come into discussion as a potential ‘superfood’ crop.
According to local farmers, the yield of the Okinawa variety is much higher compared to other local varieties. Up to a hundred maunds are being obtained per bigha. It is also rapidly becoming popular among farmers as it has a relatively high storage capacity and is disease and pest tolerant. According to ordinary farmers, more than three maunds are being produced per hundred, which is about one and a half times more than other local varieties. The size of the potatoes is also quite large and attractive.
After being boiled or roasted, this potato has a beautiful yellowish color inside, which is attracting consumers. It also has a distinct sweetness and softness in its taste. Boiling it slowly in less water makes it taste better. Consumers say that keeping boiled or roasted potatoes in the refrigerator for some time increases the sweetness level further.
Many people think that eating sweet potatoes can increase blood sugar levels. However, according to nutritionists, this is a common misconception. Since the glycemic index of sweet potatoes is relatively low, diabetic patients can also eat it in moderation. It contains a lot of antioxidants, which help reduce harmful free radicals in the body. In addition, the high level of dietary fiber helps in digestion, keeps the stomach full for a long time and helps reduce constipation. In addition, the vitamin ‘A’ it contains plays an important role in eye vision. Since it contains healthy carbohydrates, it provides energy gradually and does not allow hunger to arise quickly.
Okinawa sweet potatoes are known worldwide because of the food culture of the Okinawa region of Japan. This potato is considered an important food for longevity and healthy life. As a result, this potato is also gaining popularity among health-conscious people.
Farmer Noor Mohammad of Barikandi village of Barikandi union said, “After getting an idea about this variety of sweet potatoes through farmer training last year, I collected vines from the agriculture office through Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Delwar Hossain. Later, I cultivated it on 20 percent land for the first time and got about 65 maunds of potatoes.”
Farmer Kamal Mia of Darilapang village of Nabinagar West union said, “Both the taste and demand of this potato are good. It is also getting a good price in the market. For the last two years, I have been cultivating Okinawa variety of sweet potatoes on three bighas of land. The yield is about 120 maunds per bigha. It is profitable for us as it produces more at lower cost. Therefore, there are plans to cultivate it on more land in the future.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Jahangir Alam Liton said, “Farmers are increasingly interested in Okinawa variety sweet potatoes. Due to good yield and market demand, its cultivation will increase further in the future. A special program has been taken for training and demonstration of entrepreneurial farmers in vine production. There are plans to expand Okinawa to 100 bighas of land next season.”
Dr. Mostafa Emran Hossain, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Brahmanbaria, said, “Modern facilities for storing sweet potatoes have not yet been developed in the country. If storage systems like round potatoes and agro-processing industry based on sweet potatoes are developed, farmers will get fair prices and consumers will also be able to buy this nutritious food easily in the market for a long time.”
Currently, sweet potatoes are cultivated on about 255 hectares of land in Nabinagar Upazila. Of these, about 20 farmers from Natghar, Nabinagar West, Satmora, Barikandi and Birgaon Unions are producing Okinawa variety potatoes. According to sources from the Agriculture Office, there is a possibility that the cultivation of this variety will increase threefold this season.