Shameem Reza Dafrul, Gobindaganj (Gaibandha)

A record amount of land has been cultivated in Gobindaganj Upazila of Gaibandha. The yield has been bumper. But farmers are suffering due to the fall in prices.

The cost of production is not being met by cultivating potatoes in advance. Farmers have to sell potatoes at a price of 450 to 600 taka per kg depending on the type in the wholesale market. As a result, farmers are facing losses. Farmers are disappointed.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Office sources, this year the target of potato cultivation in Gobindaganj Upazila was set on 6,104 hectares of land. But cultivation was done on 9,318 hectares of land. Potatoes were cultivated on one and a half times more land than the target. The highest cultivation was done in the Barendra region in 6 unions in the west of the upazila. The cultivated potatoes include sunflower, red pakori, granola, diamond, cardinal, lady rosetta varieties. The weather is favorable, so the cultivation and yield have also been good.

Zayed Ali, Dulu Mia of Barna village in the upazila said that he is happy to see the yield of potatoes cultivated after spending a lot of money. But the price of potatoes is not high in the market. Currently, each kg of potatoes is being sold in the retail market for 20 to 25 taka. However, the production cost of one kg of potatoes is 15/20 taka. I have to count the loss by selling potatoes. So, instead of being happy, I am now in trouble with potatoes.

Farmer Mohammad Ali said that this year, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and tillage were spent on potato cultivation on each bigha of land. Potato production was 90/100 maunds. It is being sold for 40 to 45 thousand taka. Although there is no profit in production and sale, if we consider the cost of transportation and labor, there is a loss in selling potatoes.

Farmer Jobbar Mia said that he got a good price by cultivating potatoes last year. So, in the hope of profit, I have cultivated potatoes on double the land this year. But currently, depending on the type, sunflower potatoes are being sold in the market at 450 to 500 taka, and red potatoes at 500 to 600 taka per person. This is causing losses to the farmers rather than profit. On top of that, no value is being received for labour.

Potato trader Maqbul Mia at Golapbagh Hat said that he is buying sunflower potatoes at 450 to 500 taka per person and red potatoes at 500 to 600 taka per person. I buy potatoes in 3/4 trucks 4/5 days a week at Golapbagh Hat and send them to Dhaka and Chittagong. However, the price of potatoes is decreasing day by day.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Mehedi Hasan said - Potatoes have been cultivated on a record amount of land in Gobindaganj Upazila this time. Potato cultivation has also been very good this time due to the favorable weather. The price of potatoes has decreased slightly due to harvesting at the same time. However, the price of potatoes will increase if cold storages are opened.