Workers load trucks with the newly-harvested potatoes at a wholesale market of Boraigram upazila under the district for sending to different districts across the country. The photo was taken on Wednesday. — FE Photo NATORE, Feb 14: Newly-harvested potato has started appearing in the local market of the district but the farmers are not happy over the present rate.
A good number of farmers said a bumper production of potato has been achieved this season but they do not get the fair price. They claimed that present market rate does not even cover the production cost.
The growers expressed the hope that price may rise when the cold storages will start preserving of the crop.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources, over 650 hectares of land have been brought under the farming of potato this season. Harvest is going on in full swing and it will complete within a week.
In a recent visit the correspondent found each maund of the newly-harvested potato is being sold at Tk 350 to Tk 380 in the wholesale markets. But the farmers claimed that they spent Tk 300 to Tk 350 to produce the same amount.
"I have cultivated over 45 decimals of land under potato cultivation spending Tk 8,000. I got some 40 maunds of yield and sold them at Tk 12,000," said farmer Abu Bakkar Molla of Shingra upazila.
Deputy director of DAE Md Rafiqul Islam said favourable weather helped achieve a good potato yield this season. He urged the farmers not to worry over the price as it may rise soon.
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