Jasimuddin Iti Thakurgaon Correspondent
Two months ago, the price of potatoes per kg in the market had risen to 75/80 taka. Shamsher Ali, a potato farmer from Dakshin Thakurgaon in Akcha Union of Thakurgaon Sadar, had made a good profit by cultivating potatoes on 33 acres of land. Hoping for more profit, he has cultivated potatoes on one acre of land by borrowing money. But now the price of potatoes in the market is decreasing.
Shamsher Ali, who sold the potatoes at a price of 40-45 taka per kg in the market 20 days ago, sold them at 13 taka per kg last week. Far from making any profit, he is worried about paying off his farming debts. Not only Shamsher Ali, but hundreds of farmers in the district are now facing losses due to early potato cultivation.
According to the Thakurgaon Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on 26,168 hectares of land in this district last season. Due to good yields last time, potatoes have been cultivated on 34,500 hectares of land this season. Of this, early potatoes have been cultivated on 1,555 hectares of land.
Talking to potato farmers in different areas of Thakurgaon district, it was learned that this year too, farmers have cultivated different varieties of early potatoes in the hope of profit. Every year, potatoes are planted at the end of September and sold in the market in November. However, this time, due to rains in September-October, the farmers' seeds were destroyed. Due to this, they had to plant new seeds. This has also increased the cost of cultivation this year compared to other years. But now the farmers are facing losses by selling those early varieties of potatoes.
Farmers said that at the beginning of the season in Thakurgaon, potatoes were sold for 70 taka per kg. Now, those potatoes are being sold in the field for 13 to 14 taka per kg. Abdul Hakim, a farmer from Ruhiya Bhangaquat area of Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, said that more than 60,000 taka was spent on cultivating early variety potatoes on one bigha of land. 2,600 kg of potatoes were obtained. As a result, the cost of cultivating potatoes per kg was more than 23 taka. Those potatoes have to be sold for 13 to 14 taka. As a result, there is a loss of 12 to 13 taka per kg.
Mazedur Rahman, a potato farmer from the Palashbari area of Baliadangi, Bara, said that he spent more than 1 lakh 81 thousand taka on cultivating Granula variety potatoes on three bighas of land. He got 195 maunds of potatoes. He sold those potatoes at 12 taka and got 93 thousand 600 taka. As a result, he lost 87 thousand 400 taka.
Nazmul, a farmer from Rangatungi village in Ranishankail upazila, said, "I cultivated potatoes on four bighas of land. Out of this, I sold two bighas of potatoes. At that time, I made a small profit. But now I cannot sell due to lack of buyers. The price of potatoes is decreasing every day. There is no way to keep the potatoes. Because, potatoes cannot be stored in the cold storage in advance."
Mostafa, a potato farmer from Chhota Balia area of Sadar Upazila, said, "People talk a lot when prices increase in the market. The government also fixes the price. Now the price of potatoes is decreasing every day. But no one is saying anything. The government is also not taking any action."
Businessman Abdur Rahman visits farmers' fields to buy potatoes. He said, "I bought a kilogram of potatoes at the beginning of the season for 80 taka. Last week, I bought potatoes from the fields for 22 to 24 taka per kilogram. Now I buy those potatoes for 13 to 14 taka."
Sirajul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Thakurgaon, said that when farmers in this area make a profit from one crop, others also tend to do the same. This has happened in the case of potatoes this year. However, the cost of production is also a little high. But the price in the market is low. Due to this, farmers are worried about getting a fair price. However, since the production is good, the farmers will not suffer losses even if their profit is low, said the official.
Jasimuddin Iti
