Soaring prices make Rangpur potato cultivators delighted

• During that time cold storage owners also suffered. But this year particularly at present the situation is different.
• Presently per kg potato is being sold at Tk 20 to Tk 30 at different markets depending on variety, sources said.
• Farmers said in previous year many farmers showed their reluctance to cultivate potato due to low price. That time farmers faced crisis of potato seeds as well.  Apprehending huge loss many potato growers sold their produce quite early this year which caused massive scarcity of the crop in market.
• A number of potato sellers in city market alleged that due to scanty supply in markets its price has marked a sharp rise at the end of the year, they added.
• Azizur Rahman of Dangapara village of Taraganj Upazila said he cultivated Sheel variety of potato last season. He had to spend Tk 900 including production cost and cold storage expenditure for per sack (84 Kg) of potato.
• Presently a sack of potato is sold at Tk 2,300 to Tk 2,500.  If he sells those at present rate he can make profit of Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,600 per sack, he added.
• Rashid of Shukurer Haat area under Mithapukur Upazila said he stored 500 sacks of potato in cold storage. He has already sold those in the storage with profit of Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,300 per sack.
• He also expects to make more profit in the upcoming seasons, he added.
• Some cold storage owner said during previous years they as well as the farmers suffered losses due to low price of the crop but this year both them are earning remarkable profit.

    sayedmofidulbabu@gmail.com