Farmers frustrated as potato price plummets in Rangpur
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Mar 21: The potato growers of the district have become frustrated due to lower price of potato than the production cost.
Farmers of eight upazilas of Rangpur have been cultivating potatoes in their lands for years. But they are now reluctant to cultivate potato next season on account of the huge loss they are counting this season.
After establishment of private cold storages in the region, the growers were enthusiastic and have made dynamic efforts to raise their potato production gradually.
But, the low price of potato made it difficult for them to cover even the production and storage costs this year, the concerned sources said.
They also blamed unfavourable weather, price hike of fertilisers and pesticides at the beginning of the season for the rise in potato production cost.
Including production, transport and storage costs, the farmers spent Tk 1000 to Tk 1100 to produce every sack of potato. But the price of the item in the market is Tk 650 to 700 per sack only.
RANGPUR, Mar 21: The potato growers of the district have become frustrated due to lower price of potato than the production cost.
Farmers of eight upazilas of Rangpur have been cultivating potatoes in their lands for years. But they are now reluctant to cultivate potato next season on account of the huge loss they are counting this season.
After establishment of private cold storages in the region, the growers were enthusiastic and have made dynamic efforts to raise their potato production gradually.
But, the low price of potato made it difficult for them to cover even the production and storage costs this year, the concerned sources said.
They also blamed unfavourable weather, price hike of fertilisers and pesticides at the beginning of the season for the rise in potato production cost.
Including production, transport and storage costs, the farmers spent Tk 1000 to Tk 1100 to produce every sack of potato. But the price of the item in the market is Tk 650 to 700 per sack only.