Low demand leaves tonnes of potatoes unsold in Thakurgaon

Potato farmers and traders in Thakurgaon are facing mounting losses as prices have fallen to Tk14 per kilogram, against their cost of Tk19–20 per kg, including cold storage rent and transportation.

Many farmers and traders stored potatoes in cold storages, expecting prices to rise after the harvest season. However, weak market demand has dashed their hopes, leaving a large volume of potatoes unsold.

During the harvest season, potatoes were bought from fields at Tk10–12 per kg. Farmers who stored them for better prices are now losing Tk5–6 per kg, despite the additional storage and transportation costs.

Abdul Quddus, a farmer from Nargun in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, said he had stored potatoes because of low prices during the harvest, hoping to recover his costs and make a profit later. Instead, he is now facing substantial losses as market prices remain far below his expenses.

Ashraf Ali, a farmer and trader from Baliadangi upazila, said he had suffered losses from potato cultivation and cold storage over the past two to three seasons.

He warned that continued losses could discourage farmers from growing potatoes and urged the government to take measures to stabilise prices.

Abus Sattar, a trader from Salandar village in Thakurgaon Sadar, said around two-thirds of the potatoes stored in cold storages remained unsold due to weak demand. He warned that losses would increase if the potatoes could not be marketed soon.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), potato cultivation was targeted on 30,000 hectares in the district this season, but the crop was grown on around 37,000 hectares. Early varieties accounted for approximately 10,000 hectares. The district has 19 cold storages with a combined stock of around 105,000 tonnes of potatoes.

The slow release of potatoes has also raised concerns among cold storage owners and affected workers involved in loading and unloading, whose earnings have declined due to reduced activity.

Al Amin, manager of Shahi Cold Storage, said owners were also worried about the low prices. If potatoes remained in storage, farmers, traders and storage operators would all face losses.

Alamgir Kabir, additional deputy director of the DAE in Thakurgaon, said farmers who had stored potatoes in anticipation of higher prices were now incurring losses as market rates had fallen significantly.

Farmers and traders have called for measures to accelerate potato sales, including exploring export opportunities, to reduce the volume of unsold stocks and minimise their losses.