POST HARVEST PROBLEMS FACED BY THE POTATO FARMERS IN RANGPUR DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was conducted in three villages namely: Chuhor. Joyrampur and Solaipur from Pairaband union of Mithapukur upazila under Rangpur district. The main purposes of the study were, I) to identify the post harvest problems faced by the potato farmers, ii) to describe some of the selected characteristics of the farmers and iii) to explore the relationships between post harvest problems faced by the potato farmers and their selected characteristics. A number of 108 potato farmers were selected randomly as the sample of the study. The researcher collected data by himself through personal contact with a well structured pretested interview schedule. From the findings it was revealed that 43.53 percent of the farmers faced medium and high problems related to post harvest of potato each, whereas only 12.96 percent of the farmers faced low problems related to post harvest of potato. To explore the relationships between the selected characteristics of the farmers and their problems related to post harvest of potato. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation co-etlicient (r) was computed. The correlation analysis revealed that Level of education, knowledge on potato storage and extent of use of (luality control of the respondents had significant negative relationships, but losses of potato as perceived by the farmers and amount of damaged potatoes found during harvesting had significant positive relationships with the farmers' problems related to post harvest of potato. Others variables namely age, farm size, potato cultivation area and experience in potato cultivation of the respondents had no significant relationships with their problems related to post harvest of potato. The P19 index indicated that, the farmers faced highest constraint in post harvest of potato was lack of storage facility (FF1 = 300). Disease attack in the storage period (FF1 = 242) and lower market price (PFI = 231.1) were ranked in second and third respectively.