Potato farmers in Phulbari, Dinajpur, are facing significant losses as market prices have fallen sharply below production costs. While the cost of producing one kilogram of potatoes is 24 taka, farmers are only able to sell at 15 taka per kilogram. On August 27, the government had set the warehouse price at 22 taka per kilogram, but buyers have not adhered to this rate, leaving approximately 120,000 bags of potatoes unsold in storage.
Abul Hasnat, chief accountant of Phulbari Cold Storage, the only warehouse serving the district, said that according to the contract, farmers can withdraw their potatoes until November 15. After that, the warehouse electricity will be cut off, and any loss of stored potatoes will be the farmers’ responsibility.
Local traders Monnaf Ali, Moksed Ali, and Harun Mia expressed frustration, saying, “Government agencies intervene when prices rise, but they ignore us when prices fall. No one is buying potatoes at 15 taka per kilogram, either retail or wholesale. Soon, we won’t even be able to store them in the warehouse. What are we supposed to do with these potatoes?”
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on 1,823 hectares across the sub-district, yielding 45,575 tons. The five sub-districts of southeastern Dinajpur—Phulbari, Birampur, Nawabganj, Hakimpur, and Ghoraghat—share the single cold storage facility, which currently holds 180,000 bags of potatoes weighing 55 kilograms each. As of Thursday, 60,000 bags had been withdrawn, leaving 120,000 bags still in storage. Last year, over 70,000 bags had been withdrawn by this time.
Farmers allege that despite the government setting a warehouse price of 22 taka per kilogram on August 27 and announcing a purchase of 50,000 tons, they are still forced to sell at 15 to 16 taka per kilogram. The total production cost for a 55-kilogram bag, including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, land rent, and transportation, is 1,320 taka, equivalent to 24 taka per kilogram. Selling at the current prices results in a loss of 8 to 9 taka per kilogram.
Local farmers have expressed hesitation in withdrawing their remaining stock. Ekramul Haque has stored nine bags of potatoes for seeds and household use, withdrawing only four so far due to low prices. Similarly, Ashiqur Rahman has eight bags in storage, of which two have been withdrawn. Both are uncertain about retrieving the remaining stock.
Sub-district agricultural officer Saif Abdullah Mostafin said that while he is not aware of any government purchases from the warehouses, the drop in market prices is causing significant losses for farmers.
Md. Abu Zafar, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) in Dinajpur (Seed Potato), confirmed that no government procurement has yet taken place from warehouse gates, and officials cannot confirm when it will occur.
