With potato prices far below production costs in Joypurhat, many farmers and traders are leaving their potatoes in cold storage for fear of a loss. About 45 percent of the potatoes in the district's 22 cold stores are still there, although the storage period ends on 15 November, RTV's Joypurhat correspondent reported.
The district produced 943,000 tonnes of potatoes last season. Prices were low at harvest, so farmers and traders stored 238,000 tonnes in the 22 cold stores in the hope of better prices later. By their reckoning, a 60-kilogram sack of the Sterling, Cardinal and Baro-Tero varieties cost up to 1,250 taka to grow, yet sells for only 550 to 670 taka at the cold-store gate. A sack of the local Pakri variety cost up to 1,600 taka and sells for 1,050. The loss is 500 to 600 taka a sack, depending on the variety.
Abul Hossain, a farmer from Amdoi village in Sadar upazila, said he stored 150 sacks, sold 50 for no profit and would lose half his money if he sold the remaining 100 now. Babu Mia of Himadripara in Khetlal asked the government to extend the storage period and raise potato prices. Trader Alal Hossain of Tilabdul Madhyapara said three or four years of losses had cost him all his land, and he might have to sell his house to repay his loans.
When contracts expire and potatoes are not collected, cold-store owners cannot charge more, yet they still carry the electricity and running costs. Shariful Islam, manager of Himadri cold store, said half the potatoes in his store had gone out, and that allowing exports would make up some of the loss. Cold-store owners have asked the district office of the Department of Agricultural Marketing for help.
Those affected are calling for higher prices, export opportunities and an extension of the storage period. The district agricultural marketing office said it would write to the cold stores about extending the deadline.
Photo: Sargoth / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Source: RTV Online
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