Potato growers in Bogra are getting frustrated because of the low prices of the crop in local markets and the shortage of space in cold storages.
According to sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 4.44 lakh hectares of land has been brought under cultivation with a production target of 86.5 lakh metric tonne (mt) this season.
Meanwhile, officials of the department expect production of one crore metric tonne, which is approximately 10 lakh more than last year.
DAE Deputy Director AH Bazlur Rashid said; “We expect 20 mt production per hectare of land by the end of the season.”
Abdul Mannan from the village of Mundia in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat said he spent Tk80,000 to cultivate the crop on 1.50 hectares of land but earned only Tk40,000.
Sirazul Islam from Matidali Village in Bogra Sadar upazila said he sold his diamond variety of potatoes at Tk1 per kg on Monday in the wholesale market.
DAE office sources said the cost of production for potatoes reached Tk5 to Tk5.50 per kg this season.
Md Abdul Gafur, chairman of Shahasultan Group, said 10,000 bags of the crop remained unsold in his five cold storages.
“I have sold one lakh bags at Tk80 to Tk100 to vacate the storage,” said Gafur.
Chairman of TR Specialized Cold Storage and M Rajia Cold Storage Al Haj Tipu Sultan said over one lakh bags of potatoes remain unsold in his two cold storages.