Gaibandha lacks adequate potato storage facilities

OUR CORRESPONDENT

GAIBANDHA, Apr 03: Farmers are facing troubles to preserve potato as there are no adequate potato storage facilities in the northern district amid the higher production of the agri product this year.

Sources said there are only six cold storages for preserving potatoes in the district, whose number is much lower than required.

Farmers have alleged that they have taken booking cards, but failing to keep potatoes in cold storages. Many are returning home with their potatoes.

Many traders have taken advance potato preservation cards by ticking unscrupulous officers, cold storage employees and local brokers, farmers alleged.

According to sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Gaibandha, potato has been cultivated on 14,497 hectares of land than the target of 12,250 hectares in the district this season.

The six cold storages have the capacity to store 52,760 tonnes of potatoes, officials said. DAE officials said as many as 354,307 tonnes of potatoes have been produced in the district.

So, farmers are being forced to sell potatoes at low prices and suffering huge losses.

Talking to farmers, it is known that this year cold storage fares have increased though the Cold Storage Association has fixed the fare at Tk 5 per kg.Farmers alleged that the cold storage authorities have already given the potato preservation cards. If the shortage of potato storage facilities continues, farmers will not be able to save seedlings for next season. Hemadri Cold Storage Manager Mozammel Haque said the booking card was over. There are no rules for selling the booking card in the black market.

"This year we are giving priority to local farmers," said Sajib, manager of Govindoganj Cold Storage."

Govindganj Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Syeda Yasmin Sultana said, "Regular monitoring is being monitored so that farmers can save their potatoes in storages."

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