Joypurhat District Representative:
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, anti-discrimination student crowds and farmers erupted in anger in Kalai Upazila of Joypurhat. Farmers are currently facing huge losses due to the fall in potato prices and the increase in cold storage rent. According to the Agriculture Office, this year, the target potato production in Joypurhat district has been cultivated on about 44 thousand hectares of land. However, farmers are not getting fair price.
Although the cost of potato production has increased this year, farmers have faced unusual losses due to the fall in prices. After spending 35 to 40 thousand taka per bigha, the sale of potatoes is not getting a fair price. Only 25 to 27 thousand taka, as a result of which the farmers are facing extreme losses. Even though they produce potatoes on credit, instead of making a profit, the farmers are facing huge losses. Farmers say, "The condition of the farmers is already bad, and on top of that, the sudden fall in the price of potatoes has made them stand on the brink of death."
Farmers are also angry over the increase in cold storage rent for storing potatoes. The cold storage authorities are charging more than the previously fixed rent. The cold storage rent has increased from 300 to 400 and some are charging up to 450 taka per bag, while potatoes are being sold at 320 taka per maund. Farmers are complaining that they will store them in cold storage now when the price is low and sell them later when the price increases, but “our losses are increasing due to the increase in cold storage rent.”
As the students took to the streets to protest the plight of farmers, the leaders of the student movement said, “If the syndicate cannot be broken, we will continue the hard movement.” They held protest marches and rallies together with the farmers and submitted a memorandum to the administration demanding a syndicate-free market and a reduction in cold storage rent. The farmers are saying, “We want a syndicate-free market, otherwise we will launch a hard movement within the next 72 hours.”
Kalai Upazila Executive Officer Shamima Akhter Jahan said, "The upazila administration is monitoring the matter and the matter has been shared with the district administration, divisional commissioner and even the ministry. We will take immediate action."
Kalai Upazila Agriculture Officer Arun Chandra Roy said, "This syndicate must be broken to save the farmers. If their problems are not resolved, a major crisis will arise in the agricultural system."
In this situation, farmers are demanding immediate administrative assistance and a syndicate-free system to regain their just rights.
