Bumper potato yield in Rangpur, but no smiles on farmers' faces

Despite a bumper potato yield in Rangpur this season, there are no smiles on the faces of farmers. This is because the market price of potatoes is so low that production costs are not even being met. Compelled by circumstances, many are feeding those potatoes to cows. Farmers report that it has cost more than 15 Taka to produce a kilogram of potatoes. Yet in the market, they are currently selling for 10 to 10.50 Taka. This means a loss of an average of 5 Taka per kilogram is being incurred. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rangpur district, about 19 lakh 44 thousand tonnes of potatoes have been produced in the district this year.

However, the storage capacity of the 40 cold storages is only 4 lakh 16 thousand tonnes. As a result, farmers are unable to store a huge quantity of potatoes. Suhin Mia, a farmer from the Roghubazar area of Rangpur city, said, "I did not get space in the cold storage, and the price at which they are selling in the market does not even cover the cost. So I am boiling potatoes and feeding them to my cows." The same situation prevails in all eight upazilas of the district including Gangachara, Badarganj, Pirgachha, and Mithapukur. Many farmers are now using potatoes as cattle feed.

Veterinary surgeons, however, have warned about this, saying that potatoes containing pesticides can be harmful to cows. Farmers complain that cold storages are booked in advance by influential traders. Ordinary farmers do not get space in them. On the other hand, there is also the fear that potatoes kept at home will rot in the heat. Last year at this time, potatoes were 25-30 Taka per kilogram. This time those potatoes are selling for 10 Taka. Farmers say that if prices remain like this, cultivating potatoes will become a risky affair in the future.