Today I will discuss how to preserve potatoes.

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Potato is the main vegetable of Bangladesh. Second on the list of food grains. We are ranked seventh among the best producing countries in the world. People in 40 countries of the world eat potatoes just like we eat rice. However, some people think that the nutritional value of potatoes is very low and it increases the belly. In fact, this idea is wrong. Because, according to nutritionists, potatoes contain vitamin-A and vitamin-C. But rice is not at all. Besides, there is sugar, meat, calcium, iron, vitamin-A, vitamin-B. On the other hand, the amount of fat is much less than rice and only one fifth of the flour. Therefore, in addition to increasing its yield, it is also necessary to increase its eating habits. In the 2018-2019 financial year, about 13 million metric tons of potatoes were produced in different parts of the country. Our demand for food is 60-70 lakh metric tons. And about seven and a half lakh metric tons are required as seeds. The rest of the potatoes are being exported abroad. This time the yield is also quite good as the weather is favorable. So this year's production will be as expected. Now is the season. The price is also a little lower. The price is 18 rupees per kg. Although a month ago the price was 14-15 rupees. Since most farmers sell potatoes in the market immediately after collection. Then naturally the market price remains low. As a result, they suffered financially. There is a way to get rid of it. This requires conservation measures. The only way to keep potatoes for a long time is to freeze. Although the cost is less, 300 rupees per bag. Besides, there will be no place to keep the country's total potatoes in about 350 cold storages. So some people put potatoes under the bed or on the floor of the house because they can't afford it. Due to not knowing the correct method, 20-30 percent of these potatoes are wasted. But it is possible to preserve potatoes using traditional methods. The cost will be less. 30-35 rupees per bag. Potatoes can also be stored using a specially made ‘ahimayita ghar’. Invented by the Department of Agricultural Marketing.
The canopy of this house built on a scaffolding in a shady place will be made of tin and surrounded by a bamboo fence. The capacity of a wide house on one percent of the land is 14-18 tons. However, the length and width of the house will depend on the amount of potatoes. If it is not possible alone, a few matches can be made. If saved in this way, the violence of the foxes will go away. Farmers will benefit. A smile will appear on his face. News like 'Potatoes at the price of water, hands on the head of farmers' will no longer be the headline in any newspaper. So you need to know the details about those simple methods.
The prerequisite for potato storage is timely collection. It should be picked only when it is mature. For this, it is necessary to cut the tree from the root 7-8 days before. It is forbidden to pick potatoes in rainy or cloudy weather. Not even in the hot sun. There is a risk of backhart disease. So morning is better. Potatoes cannot be cut with a plow or a spade. Arrangements should be made to take the bag home quickly after picking up. If it has to be kept on the ground for any reason, it should be spread in a shady place and covered with dry straw or a thin cloth. It is better to use plastic containers so that the potatoes do not get injured while being put in the sack. It should be kept in a dry and shady place with normal ventilation. Cannot be dropped from a height.
In order to harden the potato peel, open cold place in the house has to be selected. Spread a sack on the floor and keep it 1 foot high in a pile of potatoes. It should be covered with thin paper for 5-6 days. Then the skin will become hard. There will be no risk of damage in the movement. Besides, if there is a wound on the body, it will heal. Insect attacks can also be protected. Before storage, small, medium and large sized potatoes have to be selected separately, excluding very small, injured, cut, cracked, sore, green and diseased potatoes. It should be dried in the shade beforehand. It should not be wet at all.
Houses need to be made suitable for potato governance and ventilation. The house has to be built on a platform a little higher than the ground with a tent made of straw, straw and golpata. Potatoes should be stored in piles on it. The maximum height of each pile will be 1 meter and the width will be 2 meters. Potatoes can also be kept on shelves. Bamboo or cane baskets, buckets can also be kept. Potatoes can be placed on the loft in the living room by making scaffolding or shelves, even on the dry sand under the stool.
To prevent insect attack, dry leaves of neem, nishinda, poison ivy should be ground and mixed well in the pile. No pesticides. The condition of potatoes should be checked every 15 days. If the stench comes out, it must be understood that the potato has rotted. Rotten potatoes must be removed. Wet potatoes in the vicinity should be dried in the light sun and re-stored. If rats or any other harmful animals are noticed, it is important to take measures to control them.