United News of Bangladesh

Farmers, traders and warehouse owners in Lalmonirhat are expressing growing concern over unsold potatoes stored in cold storage in five upazilas, fearing significant financial losses this season. A 60-kg sack of potatoes, which costs around Tk 1,500 to produce and store, is now selling for only Tk 700-800 in the market, leaving farmers counting a minimum loss of Tk 600 per sack. Local growers say the lack of demand has forced them to leave their stock in cold storage, further reducing turnover. Compared to last year’s 40 percent sales by this time, less than 20 percent of this season’s stored potatoes have been sold, sparking concerns among warehouse owners. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office in the district, potatoes were cultivated on 7,800 hectares this season, yielding 204,000 metric tonnes (MTs). Of this, 78,000 MTs are now stored in nine district cold storages. Many farmers, encouraged by last year’s higher returns, stored potatoes this season hoping for good prices, but have yet to receive the expected gains. Read: Govt to procure potatoes to support farmers: Adviser Storing a single sack in a warehouse costs between Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,100, bringing total expenses to around Tk 1,500 per sack, and the present market prices leave farmers with only Tk 250–300 per sack after four months of storage. Expressing frustration, Sohag, a farmer from Charitabari village in Aditmari upazila, said, “I stored 100 sacks of potatoes expecting a good turnover. After two months, I earned only Tk 28,000. Selling during the season could have brought about Tk 60,000. We are left financially ruined.”