Fair price demanded : Farmers block road by pouring potatoes on highway. In Kurigram
Kurigram Correspondent
Potato farmers in Kurigram are worried. On the one hand, the production cost of potato cultivation is high, and on the other hand, potato farmers are facing losses due to the increase in cold storage rent. Potato farmers and traders have blocked the road by pouring potatoes on the highway to protest. During this time, traffic on the highway was closed for 3 hours.
Hundreds of potato farmers took part in a blockade on the Kathal Bari highway in Sadar Upazila on Tuesday afternoon, Later, with the assurance of the upazila administration, police administration and army, the farmers lifted the blockade by tomorrow.
Potato farmers said that due to the increase in the prices of potato seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, the cost of producing potatoes has increased to 22 taka per kg and the cold storage rent was fixed at 350 taka per 70 kg sack. Accordingly, the rent was 5 taka per kg. But it has been increased to 6 taka 75 paisa per kg. As a result, this year the cost of producing potatoes and cold storage rent is 29 taka per kg. As the current market price of potatoes is 15 taka per kg, the farmers are facing losses. The potato farmers said that they will launch a more stringent program if the cold storage rent is not reduced.
Potato farmer and businessman Md. Mamun Ur Rashid said, "Last year, the cold storage rent was 5 taka, this year the cold storage rent has been increased to 6 taka 75 paisa per kg. Due to this, small farmers like us are facing extreme losses. We want the cold storage rent back at the previous price."
Dulal Bepari, president of the Potato Farmers and Traders Cooperative Association, and Md. Solaiman Ali, general secretary, said, "Our demand is a fair demand of the farmers and traders. If the demand is accepted, the amount of losses will be reduced to some extent," the representatives said.
Md. Jahangir Alam, director of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, said, "Compared to other districts, we give additional commission along with facilities to potato farmers and traders in Kurigram. That is why we are charging a little more rent," he said.
Kurigram Sadar UNO Saida Parvin said that the potato farmers have lifted the blockade and a decision will be announced tomorrow after discussions with the potato farmers and cold storage owners.
