Hundreds of potato growers and traders of Lalmonirhat are facing difficulties as prices of potato have fallen sharply. The farmers can neither bring back their potato from the cold storage, nor can they sell it in the market, as lifting charges (cold storage rent) are higher than the selling price. As a result, many farmers have been forced to sell at lower prices and count losses.

Cold storage owners have served notice on farmers and potato traders, as the time mentioned in the contract has passed. But many farmers are yet to take back their potato stock.

A potato trader, Ashraful Islam of Aditmari upazila, said he kept 600 sacks of potato in the cold storage. He will surrender his stock as the lifting charge (Tk. 300 store rent, Tk. 80 price of a jute sack, Tk. 20 van rent) is more than the selling price. He will lose about two-thirds of the invested money.

Like him, Najrul Islam of Kamlabari union in Aditmari upazila said he kept 3,500 sacks of potato, costing Tk. 30 lakh. But now, he will get at best Tk. 10 lakh by selling the potato.

He also said white the Granula variety is selling at Tk. 500 per 85 kg sack, the farmer has to pay more than Tk. 500 to the cold storage owner, including loan money.

Many others have already surrendered their potato stock to the cold storage authorities.

Many farmers who grew potato in previous years are not interested in cultivating potato in the current season due to heavy losses. They are thinking of cultivating other crops. Most of them cultivated on rental land as per seasonal contracts, taking loan from banks and local sources. Now they are worried how they will repay it.

An official of the potato export-oriented company Agi Concern Limited said they have kept 40,000 bags of potato for export to Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, but the price is very low. At the same time, China and Vietnam are sending potato to Sri Lanka at a much lower price. During harvesting, one bag of the Cardinal variety was Tk. 1,000-1,100. Now the price is Tk. 650-750.

Thus, a farmer is incurring a loss of Tk. 500 per bag.

Farmers are being deprived of fair prices in every crop, such as paddy, jute, potato, and even spices, such as turmeric, ginger and garlic.

The official urged the authorities to take immediate measures to save the farmers.

Abdul Awal, manager of Motahar Cold Storage, told The Independent that there was bumper potato production last year due to favourable weather. Many farmers kept their potato stock in the cold storage to make profit. Their total capacity is 1,20,000 sacks.

At present, 38,000 sacks of potato are lying unsold. They served notice on the farmers to take back the potato, but many haven't done so.

Four to five lakh potatoes remain unsold in eight cold storages in Lalmonirhat, and the owners will incur a loss of Tk. 20-25 core if these are not taken back.