Potato price collapse threatens farmer livelihoods in Rangpur

Bangla Press Desk: Potato growers in Taraganj, Rangpur are facing severe financial losses as market prices have plunged to as low as Tk1.25 per kilogram.

Despite the government’s fixed cold storage price of Tk22 per kg, buyers are refusing to purchase at that rate.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on 4,530 hectares of land in Taraganj this season, producing 142,095 metric toNnnes. Only 16,000 metric tonnes were stored in three cold storages, and just 3,500 tonnes have so far been released — far less than last year when nearly two-thirds had already been taken out by this time.

Farmers said the production cost at the field level stands at Tk22–23 per kg. Including storage, transportation, labour, and packaging, the cost rises to Tk29–30 per kg. In contrast, the retail price is Tk10 per kg, and the cold storage price Tk8. After paying a storage fee of Tk6.75, farmers are left with only Tk1.25 per kg — a loss of Tk21.75 compared to the government rate.

A visit to three cold storages on Monday revealed minimal activity, with potatoes selling at Tk8 per kg and many storage sheds nearly empty.

“I cultivated potatoes on seven acres at a cost of Tk23 per kg,” said Shipul Islam, a farmer from Ikrchali Pramanik Para. “When the price fell to Tk14, I stored my potatoes, hoping for better returns. Now the price is Tk8, and after storage costs, I get barely Tk1.”

Nur Mohammad, a large grower from Sayer Kazipara, said he could not find space in the cold storage and had to store his potatoes at home. “They started rotting, and I had to throw them away by truckloads. Even the stored potatoes will be released at a loss if prices don’t rise,” he said.

Sohrab Hossain from Pramanikpara added, “The total cost per kg is Tk29, but the market price is Tk8. After storage fees, we’re left with less than Tk2. If this continues, farmers will switch to tobacco.”

Dulal Hossain, manager of Sinha Cold Storage, said, “We stored 151,000 bags of potatoes. By this time last year, more than two-thirds had been released. This year, only 38,000 bags are out. The situation is alarming.”

Shariful Islam, manager of NM Cold Storage, noted that out of 260,000 stored bags, only 55,000 have been released so far. “Usually everything is taken out by mid-December, but this year it seems unlikely,” he said.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Dheeba Rani Roy expressed hope that the government’s procurement programme in Rangpur would stabilise prices. “Farmers will benefit once the procurement starts. But this year’s losses may discourage potato cultivation next season. We’re working to support them at the field level to reduce risks,” she added. This article was originally published on the Daily Sun.

BP/ZE