Thakurgaon farmers struggle as potato price drops to Tk3 per kg

Potato prices have plummeted in Thakurgaon this season despite a bumper harvest, leaving farmers in distress.

Production costs far exceed market rates, with 60-kg sacks struggling to sell even at Tk200, roughly Tk3 per kilogram. Farmers are now unsure whether to store the crop in cold storage or at home.

Farmers are now worried whether to store the crop in cold storage or keep it at home.

In Basiadevi Mandirpara village under Salandar Union of Sadar Upazila, Deepak Roy’s workers were seen harvesting Granula variety potatoes on his 10 bigha plot. Though sacks of potatoes were piled up near the field, buyers were scarce.

Deepak said, “I cannot find any wholesalers to take the produce. Even at Tk200 per sack, no one is buying. I’m worried whether to store them or keep them at home.”

“I had to spend about Tk40,000 per bigha for planting, fertiliser, pesticides, irrigation, and harvesting, yet the current sale price for the crop is less than Tk10,000,” Deepak added.

Another farmer, Rubel Islam, said the potatoes were smaller this season due to early blight, forcing him to sell at Tk3-4 per kg, which barely covers half the production cost.

Majedul Majed of Nargun noted that yield per bigha dropped from around 5,000 kg to 3,500–4,000 kg due to disease, leaving farmers hit by low production and low prices simultaneously.

Imran Ali added that the Granula variety sells at Tk3 per kg, Asterix Tk5, Sansan Tk6, and Kumrika Tk4, and if this continues, cultivating potatoes may no longer be viable.

Traders echoed the concern, saying weak demand has reduced their interest in buying. Rafiqul Islam, a wholesale dealer in Thakurgaon town, said, “Supply is high but demand is low due to Ramadan. Even if we buy, selling is difficult.”

Abdul Salam said that cold storage capacity is limited, and buying at higher prices carries the risk of loss.

According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Thakurgaon, this season potatoes were planted on 28,285 hectares against a target of 28,000 hectares, with a production target of 700,000 tonnes. Last season, 34,725 hectares produced 868,125 tonnes. The district has 17 cold storages with a total capacity of 145,532 tonnes, far below total production.

Deputy Director of district DAE Majedul Islam said, “We advised farmers to reduce acreage after last season’s losses, but many planted more land hoping for higher profit. The resulting oversupply has depressed prices.”

He urged farmers to consider alternative crops and plan production to minimise future losses.