Rajshahi growers worried over fall in potato price

RAJSHAHI, Sept 29: The farmers at Baghmara upazila here have become worried over the price fall of potato this season.
After selling potato in the last season, they stored the extra potato for cultivating again, but now they have become frustrated as the price is going low in the market.
Though the prices of other vegetables are going high in the market, potato is selling at Tk 10 to 12 per kg.
It was known that the soil and the weather of Baghmara upazila and adjacent areas are very suitable for potato farming. As the local farmers got more production and fair price of potato last year, they cultivated the vegetable on more lands this year.
But due to price fall from the early season and evil syndication in storing the produce, the farmers are not getting expected price of potato. Potato has been cultivated on 17,000 hectares of land in the upazila this season.
After selling potato during the season, the farmers stored extra potato. But, they incurred huge loss after storing it. Due to fault in the market management, the farmers are suffering loss of Tk 400 to Tk 500 per bag of potato.
Potato farmer Dulal Hossen of Balanagar village said, "It needs Tk 40,000 to 82,000 for cultivating potato in per bigha of land. Around 40 to 45 bags of potato can be produced in per bigha of land. The labour, pesticide and store rent cost Tk 500 against per bag. Currently, storing per bag (85 kg) potato of Burma variety costs Tk 1,200, cardinal Tk 1,150, granular Tk 1,000, and stick Tk 1,250. In retail market, per kg of potato is selling at Tk 12 to 13. As the price is going low, we are counting loss of Tk 500 to 550 in per bag. After one to two months, potato farming will begin but we are worried about the already stored potato."
The local potato farmers and traders said, "There are four stores in the upazila where a total of 8 lakh potato bags can be stored. Due to excessive amount of potato than the storing capability, the farmers are facing setback in this connection. As a result, they have become hostage at the hands of evil syndicate."
Potato farmers Akbar Ali, Jalal Hossen and others said, "The store owners have increased fare on different excuses, and so the farmers are facing setback to store their produce. The fare for storing per bag potato in adjacent Naogaon and Rajshahi Sadar is Tk 260 but in Baghmara it is Tk 300. Now, the farmers are losing interest in potato cultivation due to the storing crisis."
In this connection, Account Officer of Natore Cold Store in Baghmara upazila Hanif said, "We store potato following rules. But, some store owners are creating the crisis artificially."
Owner of Bhabaniganj Bashar Cold Store Shaharul Huda said, "Due to price hike of different essentials, the cold store fare has increased. But, we are not violating any rule. If the government takes pragmatic steps, the crisis can be solved."