Vehicular movement on Rangpur-Kurigram Highway was disrupted for an hour as potato growers on Monday staged demonstration spreading potatoes on road demanding fair prices at Satmatha Highway in Rangpur city. The farmers alleged that they spent Tk 11 to Tk 13 per kg of potato as production cost but currently, per kg potatoes are being sold at Tk 8 and Tk 9. READ: Bangladesh to supply potato to Russia, says Russian Embassy Ziaul Islam, a trader said the farmers are counting a loss due to unfair price of potatoes and the government should look into the matter. They also demanded to take steps as potatoes can be exported in different foreign countries. The vehicular movement on the Highway came to normal after one hour after police intervention.

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation has removed previously imposed restrictions and resumed the import of potato from Bangladesh, says the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Monday. The decision has been made based on the information provided by the competent Bangladeshi authorities responsible for quarantine and protection of plants, about the measures taken to prevent violations of the phytosanitary requirements of the Russian Federation and the Eurasian Economic Union member states. Also read: Bangladesh, UAE to boost cooperation during PM's visit The issues were discussed during the meetings of Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy with Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi as well as Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque concerning the expansion of the Bangladeshi export range of products, said the Embassy. Also read: Hadisur’s body kept in Ukraine, 5 youths still in detention centre: FM

Aiming to give a boost to potato exports, the government has decided to provide all sorts of support for its export and processing as the crop’s annual production surged past one crore metric tonnes in the country. “Over one crore tonnes of potato are produced annually in Bangladesh. But we need to import potato chips and pringles at high prices. Local firms will have to produce quality chips, pringles and French fry processing potato with added values,” said Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Sunday. The minister said this while addressing a views-exchange at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium over the enhancement of potato-processing.

The government on Tuesday fixed the price of potato at Tk 35 per kg in the retail market and Tk 30 per kg at the wholesale level.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday said the Trading Corporation Bangladesh (TCB) will start selling potatoes  at Tk 25 per kg through truck sales.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Saturday urged the farmers to cultivate those varieties of potato which have overseas demand.