Potato export brings hope for disgruntled farmers
Friday, 6 May 2011
Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, May 5: Export of potato from greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts has created a ray of hope for the farmers and traders of the region. Traders have set a target to export about 0.2 million tonnes of potatoes from the districts. About 80,000 tonnes of potato have been exported in the last two and a half months, while the rest will be shipped in phases. Meanwhile, the export has raised the prices of potato in the northern markets. About 30 agro companies, including Agri Concern, BD Foods Ltd and Sinha Agro Ltd are exporting potato from the northern districts to Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore at rates of Tk 13,000 to 28,000 per tonne, said the exporters. The exporters are buying potato at Tk 7 to 10 per kg directly from the farmers in the fields to avoid the middlemen, said Shamsuzzman Sanu, a field officer of Agri Concern. Mostafizur Rahman (45), a potato farmer of Mahiganj in Rangpur told the FE that exports of potato have influences the market positively to a limited extent, but the farmer have been waiting for months to be able to cover up their losses, he added. The exporters are buying 'granula' and 'diamond' varieties of potatoes that were produced in abundance in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts. Mosaddek Hossain Bablu, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the volume of export of potato has gone up this year because of the government's incentives. "The government declared 20 per cent incentive on potato export which encouraged the exporters to go for larger volume of export. The yield of potato has also been greater compared to that of last year". "The exporters are buying potato at a cheaper rate as they procure it directly from the farmers", said Bablu who is also the owner of two cold storages. A number of potato exporters asking not to be named told this FE correspondent that the last government committed to provide such incentive but they failed to fulfill that. The incumbent government gave the 20 percent incentive on potato export in April, May and June last year whereas the exporters needed that in February and March when exports had to be carried out in full swing, said Abdus Salam Manager of Agri Concern. "This year the government also announced to provide incentive but we are yet to see any circular on the matter", said an exporter requesting anonymity. Rangpur Adibashis demand rights Another report adds: Indigenous people in Rangpur formed a human chain Wednesday demanding their constitutional rights. Jatiya Adibashi Parishad organised the programme at Kachari Bazar area in Rangpur town. Several hundred indigenous people of Rangpur division, Joypurhat and Nagaon took part in the human chain. People from all walks of life and different professions took part in the human chain expressing solidarity with the demand. Later, they handed over a memorandum to the divisional commissioner of Rangpur, addressing the prime minister. Apart from the programme a discussion meeting was also held at the same venue. Demanding constitutional rights of indigenous people the speakers said the community is victim of discrimination in different fields as the government did not pay proper attention to its causes. The speakers also demanded immediate formation of a separate land commission to protect their rights on the plain land. They also called to establish a ministry for indigenous people. Among others Jatiya Adibashi Parishad Central General Secretary Rabindranath Soren, Advocate Babul Horidash, Soren Chandra Monda also addressed the discussion meeting. President of Rangpur Jatiya Adibashi Parishad Monilal Das presided over the meeting.
RANGPUR, May 5: Export of potato from greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts has created a ray of hope for the farmers and traders of the region. Traders have set a target to export about 0.2 million tonnes of potatoes from the districts. About 80,000 tonnes of potato have been exported in the last two and a half months, while the rest will be shipped in phases. Meanwhile, the export has raised the prices of potato in the northern markets. About 30 agro companies, including Agri Concern, BD Foods Ltd and Sinha Agro Ltd are exporting potato from the northern districts to Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore at rates of Tk 13,000 to 28,000 per tonne, said the exporters. The exporters are buying potato at Tk 7 to 10 per kg directly from the farmers in the fields to avoid the middlemen, said Shamsuzzman Sanu, a field officer of Agri Concern. Mostafizur Rahman (45), a potato farmer of Mahiganj in Rangpur told the FE that exports of potato have influences the market positively to a limited extent, but the farmer have been waiting for months to be able to cover up their losses, he added. The exporters are buying 'granula' and 'diamond' varieties of potatoes that were produced in abundance in greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts. Mosaddek Hossain Bablu, President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the volume of export of potato has gone up this year because of the government's incentives. "The government declared 20 per cent incentive on potato export which encouraged the exporters to go for larger volume of export. The yield of potato has also been greater compared to that of last year". "The exporters are buying potato at a cheaper rate as they procure it directly from the farmers", said Bablu who is also the owner of two cold storages. A number of potato exporters asking not to be named told this FE correspondent that the last government committed to provide such incentive but they failed to fulfill that. The incumbent government gave the 20 percent incentive on potato export in April, May and June last year whereas the exporters needed that in February and March when exports had to be carried out in full swing, said Abdus Salam Manager of Agri Concern. "This year the government also announced to provide incentive but we are yet to see any circular on the matter", said an exporter requesting anonymity. Rangpur Adibashis demand rights Another report adds: Indigenous people in Rangpur formed a human chain Wednesday demanding their constitutional rights. Jatiya Adibashi Parishad organised the programme at Kachari Bazar area in Rangpur town. Several hundred indigenous people of Rangpur division, Joypurhat and Nagaon took part in the human chain. People from all walks of life and different professions took part in the human chain expressing solidarity with the demand. Later, they handed over a memorandum to the divisional commissioner of Rangpur, addressing the prime minister. Apart from the programme a discussion meeting was also held at the same venue. Demanding constitutional rights of indigenous people the speakers said the community is victim of discrimination in different fields as the government did not pay proper attention to its causes. The speakers also demanded immediate formation of a separate land commission to protect their rights on the plain land. They also called to establish a ministry for indigenous people. Among others Jatiya Adibashi Parishad Central General Secretary Rabindranath Soren, Advocate Babul Horidash, Soren Chandra Monda also addressed the discussion meeting. President of Rangpur Jatiya Adibashi Parishad Monilal Das presided over the meeting.