Price-drop frustrates potato growers in Gaibandha
Growers with sacks of potato wait for buyers at Gobindaganj market in Gaibandha district. But poor presence of wholesalers due to falling price of the produce frustrates most of them. Photo: STAR
Potato growers in the district are in a quandary as huge amount of their firm produce has remained unsold due to price fall in the market. Most marginal farmers this season initiated potato farming either leasing plots from landowners or under crop-sharing contract to make a healthy profit, but a gradual fall in market price of potato has frustrated them. Fearing loss, the wholesalers are also showing less interest in buying potato from market, said Fazlur Rahman, a potato trader in Gobindagnaj upazila. Encouraged by high price of potato last season, marginal farmers of the district have been involved in potato cultivation borrowing money from local lenders this season. “We are worried about return of production cost if the price of potato continues to fall,” said Abul Kashem, a potato grower of Mohimaganj union under the upazila. Ali Hossain, another grower, said it needs Tk 12,000 for potato farming on a bigha of land. While visiting a market in Gobindaganj upazila on Wednesday, this correspondent witnessed that per maund of potato was selling at Tk 220 to 225, but the price was over Tk 320 per maund three to four days ago. Growers were seen sitting idle with potato, as there were very few buyers in the market. Apprehending huge loss, many growers retuned home with their unsold potato, as price came down to Tk 100 per maund within 24 hours. At present, potato is being sold at Tk 10 to 12 per kilogram in the retail markets, whereas it was Tk 25 last year, said Hasem Ali, a potato retailer in Gaibandha municipality market. According to District Agriculture Extension Department, some 9,372 hectares of land have been brought under potato cultivation this season, targeting per hectare output at 20 tonnes.
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