Bangladesh
Potato Production No buyers for potatoes even at Rs 4 per kg
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, January 22: Farmers of Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari are in trouble after cultivating potatoes. Potato has been cultivated in 90 percent of the land in that upazila this year. But there are no buyers. Potatoes are not being sold even at four rupees per kg.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, potato has been cultivated in 6,000 hectares of land in the upazila this year. This time different varieties of potatoes, including Burma, Crarage, Desi Bilati, Zhou Bilati, and Katilal, have been cultivated in the upazila. However, the farmers of Kishoreganj, famous for delivering potatoes early to the country's market, are not getting the price.
One farmer said that the price of potato in the field at this time last year was 30-35 rupees. So this time potato has been cultivated in 90 percent of the land in the upazila. However, there is no price for potatoes. Buyers do not want to buy five servings of potatoes for 20 rupees.
Another potato grower said that the demand is a bit less as potatoes from different districts have come to the market together. This time the wholesalers did not come from outside. If the potatoes could be sold outside, good prices would be available.
The Upazila Agriculture Office said more potatoes have been cultivated this time than last year. Stock of old potatoes are still there at the local cold storages. That is why local wholesalers are not able to buy new potatoes.
In this regard, Kishoreganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Habibur Rahman said, "Compared to last year, this time Kishoreganj has a huge potato crop." However, farmers are worried about low prices. He said various initiatives have been taken to send potatoes to different companies and abroad. The Agriculture Department is at the field level for any suggestion on how to conserve potatoes in a better way.
