Nazmul Hossain, Ranishankail (Thakurgaon) Correspondent:
In Ranishankail, Thakurgaon, the weather has been favorable compared to last year, so this year there has been a bumper potato harvest. But the farmers are angry that the potato price is not as expected. Even after selling one kilogram of potatoes, one cannot get a cup of tea or paan at present. Many potato farmers are now facing a big loss due to not getting the price despite getting the expected yield. And this is why many farmers are losing interest in potato cultivation. Even though the potatoes in the land have reached the age of maturity, many are not yet harvesting potatoes from the fields, hoping for an increase in price.
A farmer named Raju Ahmed of Kashipur Union of the upazila said, "I have spent more than half of the amount I spent on cultivating two bighas of potatoes when I sold them. What should I do now? Should I sell them or keep them in the cold storage? The cold storage authorities have increased the rent a lot compared to before."
Bellal Hossain of Sandharai village in Nanduar union of the same upazila said that currently, depending on the variety of potatoes being sold for consumption, stick red potatoes are being sold at 10.5 taka per kilogram, Daimon variety white potatoes at 11.5 taka, while Ganula white potatoes are being sold at 8.5 taka and Desi potatoes are being sold at 13 or 14 taka per kilogram. Whereas a few days ago, potatoes were being sold at 20 to 25 taka depending on the variety. On the other hand, the prices of potatoes sold for cold storage are a little higher, such as red potatoes at 15 taka and white potatoes at 16 taka. If the potato market continues like this, we will become destitute.
However, many farmers in the upazila say that during potato planting, they had to buy seeds at 90 to 120 taka per kg depending on the variety, and now they have to sell seed potatoes at 25 to 35 taka depending on the variety. The price is higher when buying, and the farmers do not get the price when selling. If this continues, our farmers have no choice but to die.
A farmer named Dulal said, this year I cultivated potatoes on 4 bighas of land. I have made a profit of 30 thousand taka by cultivating Sagita and Ganula varieties of potatoes in two bighas of land in advance. However, I am currently struggling to cover the cost of two bighas of land by cultivating Stick variety potatoes in a late plan. However, although the farmers who cultivated potatoes in advance have made a profit this time, almost all the farmers who cultivated different varieties of potatoes in a late plan are now living in fear of loss instead of profit. Many farmers are saying, if I have to accept losses like this, how will I run my family, and how will I pay for the education of my sons and daughters? On the other hand, the pressure of debt is on my head. Therefore, we farmers want the current government to emphasize a little more on exporting potatoes to different countries, then we will not suffer so much loss.
A potato wholesaler named Saherul Islam said, "The price at which we currently have to buy potatoes in the market. Including transportation and other costs to send them to Dhaka, it costs two to three taka per kilogram of potatoes. After that, potatoes are sold in Dhaka for 15 or 16 taka per kilogram."
Ranishankail Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahidul Islam said, last year, potatoes were cultivated on 32,500 hectares of land in 8 unions and 1 municipality of the upazila, but this year, farmers have cultivated different varieties of potatoes on about 42,900 hectares of land. However, the current market price of potatoes is slightly lower than before. However, we have exported 500 metric tons of potatoes to different countries of the world. If we can export more, farmers will be able to recover a lot of the price. And through this, we will be able to earn foreign currency. Which is a good thing for the country.
Nazmul Hossain
Ranishankail Thakurgaon
