Thousands of potato farmers and traders in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat district are facing severe financial losses this season due to a drastic fall in market prices, rising production costs, and a recent hike in cold storage rental fees. Despite protests, including human chains and road blockades, cold storage owners have refused to lower their charges.
According to local sources, potatoes were cultivated on 43,500 hectares of land in Joypurhat this season, yielding approximately 943,000 metric tons. However, the market has been flooded with supply while exports have significantly dropped, causing wholesale prices to plummet to historic lows. Currently, a 65 kg sack of potatoes is being sold for just Tk 780 to 800—its lowest price in the last five years.
In hopes of better market prices, many farmers stored their potatoes in cold storage facilities. However, they are now facing another challenge: increased storage costs. Last year, the rental fee for a 65 kg sack was Tk 350, but this season it has risen to Tk 400–420. Though the per kilogram rate has been slightly reduced to Tk 6.75, farmers claim they are still being charged Tk 50–60 more per sack.
Farmers argue that storage owners have unilaterally set these rates without proper consultation. They also allege that storage operators are using the deposited potatoes as collateral to secure low-interest bank loans, while lending the money to farmers at higher interest rates—tightening their control over the already struggling growers.
A breakdown of costs reveals the gravity of the situation. Producing one kilogram of potatoes now costs around Tk 17–18. With added storage fees, packaging, labor, and transport, the total cost exceeds Tk 27 per kg. However, current market prices for cold-stored potatoes stand at just Tk 11–12 per kg—resulting in a loss of nearly Tk 350 per sack.
Kalai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shamima Akhter Jahan said that several meetings had been held with cold storage owners. "They have promised to reduce the fee to Tk 370 per sack," she noted, "but it is not being implemented in practice."
On the other hand, Pradip Kumar Prasad, Treasurer of the Greater Bogura Cold Storage Association and owner of ARB Specialized Cold Storage, defended the price hike. He stated that the fees were set following guidelines from the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association and adjustments are being made based on market conditions.
As frustration among farmers continues to grow, experts warn that if urgent action is not taken to balance costs and ensure fair pricing, many farmers may abandon potato cultivation altogether—posing long-term risks to food security and agricultural sustainability in the region.
