Potato distribution under govt projects demanded

Bangladesh Cold Storage Association reiterated Saturday its demand for distribution of potato through government's various projects like Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) and Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) cards and Open Market Sale (OMS) to market unsold potato.

They, however, sought government's necessary initiative to distribute potato with rice as relief among the flood-hit people, said a press release issued from association's office.

If the government takes such initiative for distributing stored-potatoes among the consumers, the owners of cold storages will get relief from future losses. Besides, the farmers also will get a fair price.

They said about 7.6 million VGF cards are under the ministry of food and 0.75 million VGD cards under the ministry of women and children affairs.

If the government takes initiative to distribute potato along with rice and wheat equally, the marketing of stored potato will be easy.     

Around 4.6 million tonnes of potato remain preserved in 371 cold storages. Some 20 per cent of the products have been marketed so far.

Presently, the sale is going on slowly and the price is also lower. If the situation continues, a large volume of potato will remain unsold this season.

In this situation farmers and cold storage owners will face a major setback, the press release said.