RANGPUR, May 09 (UNB): For potato farmers in Rangpur a bumper harvest has turned into a season of despair, as falling prices and lack of storage capacities compel many to throw away their produce.
Farmers say it costs about Tk 18 to produce one kilogram of potato while they are being forced to sell at just Tk 5-6 per kg. With cold storages already full and no alternative preservation system, many have no option but to discard their harvest.
Additional director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Rangpur Sirajul Islam said, farmers Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha and nine upazilas in Lalmonirhat are struggling to store their produce, leaving them in a vulnerable situation.
He said thhe total losses could reach around Tk 60 million (6 crore).
The crisis is most severe in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur, where a bumper harvest has turned into a season of losses.
During visits to Chengmari and Courier Mor areas in Gangachara upazila on Thursday, this correspondent found hundreds of sacks of rotten potatoes dumped along roadsides. In several places, piles of decomposing potatoes were emitting a foul smell.
Farmers and traders blamed the situation on a sharp price fall and lack of storage facilities, which left them unable to sell their produce in time. DAE data shows that potatoes were cultivated on 5,310 hectares of land in Gangachara this season, producing around 154,207 tonnes, exceeding local demand.
Currently, potatoes are selling at Tk 6-7 per kg in wholesale markets, while farmers are getting only Tk 4-5 per kg at the farm gate - far below the production cost of Tk 18-19.
Farmers said they suffered similar losses last year when they had to sell potatoes at Tk 8-10 per kg despite production costs of Tk 18-19. This year's situation is even worse, with losses ranging between Tk 10 and Tk 15 per kg.
The upazila's only cold storage facility, with a capacity of around 150,000 sacks, is already nearly full. Many farmers stored potatoes at home but continuous rainfall and high humidity have caused those stocks to rot
quickly.
Agriculture officials said potatoes on around 60 hectares of land were damaged by rain this season, causing an estimated loss of Tk 30.6 million (3.06 crore).
Mizanur Rahman, a farmer from Chengmari village, said he cultivated potatoes on about 300 decimals of land. "When traders initially offered Tk 3-4 per kg, I stored the potatoes at home. But due to lack of proper storage, they started rotting. In the end, I had to throw away about 50 sacks," he said.
Parvin Akter, 50, from the same village, incurred even heavier losses.
She cultivated potatoes on around 500 decimals of land, including leased plots financing her farming by selling cattle worth Tk 0.15 million (1.5 lakh) and taking supplies on credit.
"Yield was good but I could not find buyers. I stored some in cold storage and kept around 200 sacks at home.
But due to continuous rain and humidity, those potatoes started rotting quickly," she said.
"Those of us farming on leased land have higher costs. Rent, labour, fertiliser - everything adds up. If we cannot sell, how will we repay our loans?" she added.
Solaiman Ali, a farmer from Kaliganj in Lalmonirhat, said he had to dump around 70 sacks after failing to secure cold storage. "If we don't get fair prices even after a good harvest, how will farmers survive?" he asked.
Local residents estimate that around 1,000-1,200 farmers in the region are facing similar distress.
Manik Mia, a potato trader near the Gangachara MNT cold storage, said traders are also struggling. "Even if we buy at Tk 5 per kg, the cost rises to around Tk 20 after adding sacks, labour, transport and storage. But the selling price is only Tk 7-8. How can we sustain business?"
Gangachara Upazila Agriculture Officer Rubel Hossain said the problem stems from overproduction and poor timing. "Farmers who harvested early did not incur losses. Those who harvested later faced losses due to rainfall and storage problem," he said.
Officials said efforts are underway to find ways to preserve surplus production, but farmers warn that without immediate market intervention and expanded storage facilities, such crises will continue to recur.