Potato farmers fear a profit shortfall in Chandpur

CHANDPUR, Dec 09: Contrary to the last year's achievement, farmers in Chandpur district are most unlikely to make a substantial profit from potato production this season for various reasons.
The growers are this time skeptical about a high profit margin mainly because of exorbitant price hike of potato seeds, scarcity of seeds, bad as well as unfavorable weather and high price of fertilisers.
Potato seeds are now reportedly being sold at Tk5,000 per sack (of 50 kg) in the local haats and bazaars, market sources said; while the government rate of potato seeds ranges between Tk 59 and Tk70 per kg, depending on quality and varieties.
Accordingly, a 50-kg sack of potato is supposed to sell at Tk3,000-Tk3,500 as per the government-fixed rate.
The price escalation of potato seeds has upset the small farmers and thrown them into an awkward situation and financial constraints.
Many farmers are moving from pillar to post for a sack of quality potato seeds at reasonable or cheaper rate but to no effect-it was observed in Mohamaya Bazar , Shahtoli Bazar , Baburhat Bazar in Chandpur Sadar upazila, famous Bakila Bazar in Hajiganj upazila, Munshirhat Bazar, Bordia and Aarong Bazar in Matlab Dakhshin upazila when this correspondent visited busy and bustling markets recently and on Saturday.
According to many farmers, last year, they bought a sack of potato seeds, weighing 50 kg, for Tk 2,000 or Tk2,200 but the same sack of potato seeds is now being sold this year at Tk 5000 ( Tk100 per kg) at the cold storage gate at BSCIC area in Baburhat of Chandpur Sadar, which enraged and upset them.
The exact reason behind the soaring price could not be known; nor could the cold storage staff give any logical answer when asked by this correspondent. The FE correspondent observed the scenario at Monoharkhadi Cold Storage and Apollo Cold Storages at BSCIC Shilpo Nogori in Baburhat of Chandpur Sadar.
The exorbitant price of potato seeds has virtually made the farmers too much disheartened, upset and worried, said veteran potato farmers Hanif Patwary, Babul Bepari, Jahurul Huque Miji, Suman Miji, Shahadat Hossain Bepari and a few others of Lodergaon, Mandari and adjacent Char Krishnapur village.
Many potato growers of Dhonpordi, Aarong, Bordia and Munshirhat of neighbouring Matlab Dakhshin upazila also echoed the same views with much regrets . In the outside markets and shops, potato seeds are sold at around Tk5,000 per sack (containing 50kg), which includes transport, labour and unloading costs.
Some farmers are selling their last stock of personally produced potato seeds at the eleventh hour at low price of Tk4,800 per sack (each 50 kg) at Mohamaya Bazar in the adjacent areas.
As the price of potato is too costly (Tk 80/00 per kg) this year in the local haats and bazzars for the past few months, farmers are taking keen interest in achieving a bumper potato yield this year to get quick benefit by selling them later at an exorbitant price.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Chandpur has placed a demand to the higher authorities for 12,375 tonnes of potato seeds for the district. But BADC has provided only 776.276 tons of potato seeds. So, the scarcity of potato seeds is till prevailing. And it is responsible for the soaring prices of seeds. There are 56,860 potato farmers in the eight upazilas of the district. Kachua, Matlab Dakhshin, Hajiganj and Chandpur Sadar are the major potato growing areas in the entire district. The expected yield of potato is about 197,340 tonnes this season.
Acting Deputy Director of the DAE, Chandpur Saiful Hasan Al Amin said, "Due to natural calamities this year, the potato growers could not sow seeds in time. Yet we are extending full co-operation to the farmers to grow potato in plenty.''
However, agriculture expert Mobarak Hossain predicts that this year too, the potato farmers in the district will reap bumper harvest as it happened last year.

[email protected]