Falling prices of potato worry farmers in Chapainawabganj

Potato growers of Chapainawabganj district are worried as they might not be able to recover the production cost due to a sudden drop in the prices of the vegetable in the local market.

The price of potato dropped to Tk 7 per kg from Tk 10 per kg, based on variety and quality, in the last six months.

According to sources at the local agriculture office, both farmers and traders in the district are facing difficulties due to the falling trend in potato prices.

Farmers have cultivated more potatoes this season after earning a significant profit from the crop last year.

Although the yield has also been good this year, however, the demand for potatoes in the market decreased as educational institutions, offices, courts and hotels remained closed due to the coronavirus situation.

As a result, most of the harvests ended up in various cold storages.

This year, the cost of production reached Tk 18-20 per kg, including the cost of cold storage. At present, potatoes are being sold at Tk 10 per kg, incurring a loss of Tk 8-10.

Potato is one of the relief items that came to aid among the people who were helpless amid the corona and floods last year along with the government help.

During a recent visit to different villages in the district, The Business Post found that potato farmers were frustrated from the sudden drop in prices of their produce.

Many farmers expressed their concerns over meeting the expenditure for cultivating upcoming crops, and some growers are wondering how to repay their loans.

Usually, small and marginal farmers take a loan from NGOs or local money lenders to meet the expenses of cultivating crops. Many of them take fertilisers and pesticides from local shops on credit, with plans to pay after harvesting the crops.

After harvesting, they repay the loans and use the rest of the money for meeting their daily needs and cultivating crops.

Shamim Ahmed, a potato farmer in Angaraipara Mahalla of Sadar upazila, said that he used to cultivate potatoes in 100 acres of land every year.

Now, potatoes are being sold at Tk 10-11 per kg. He demanded the government to export potatoes to avoid losses and save the farmers.

Agro Mahananda Cold Storage in Chapainawabganj has 500 tonnes of potatoes stocked by about 300 farmers and traders.

The traders said they stored potatoes without getting a loan from cold storage in the hope of getting a good price. However, due to the fall in the price of potatoes, they are facing financial losses.

Trader Khairul Islam has been in the potato business for about 17 years. He said bought potatoes worth about Tk 19.6 lakh, which he now has to sell at Tk8.5 lakh.

Shah Jalal, a worker at Mahananda Cold Storage, told the Business Post that there are no fair prices for potatoes. So traders are not collecting their potatoes from the storage.

“If this situation is going on for several months, It will be hard for me to run my family, ‘’ he said.

Chapainawabganj Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Muhammad Nazrul Islam told The Business Post that last year, potato traders and farmers made profits at an unusual rate.

“As a result, the amount of potato cultivation in the district has also increased this year.”

Apart from this, various vegetables were not damaged due to rain and flood. As a result, potato prices have come down due to increased potato production, he added.

KJM Abdul Awal, deputy director of Rajshahi Agriculture Extension Department, said Rajshahi has the highest commercial potato cultivation. Potato prices have come down a bit. In October, the prices will rise slightly.