Imported potato floods markets in northern dists

Newly harvested potato sells at Tk 4 to 5 per kilogram and last year's potato released from cold storages at Tk 1 to 1.5 per kilogram

Traders who stored potato last year said thy are incurring a loss of at least Tk 500 per 80 kg bag.

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About 500 traders including some big ones will become bankrupt, traders said.

Some farmers this correspondent talked to said they will incur a loss of around Tk 5000 by cultivating one acre of land.

A few importers were officially allowed to import potato seeds from India, Bhutan or other countries. They also imported huge low quality potatoes in name of potato seeds. As they did not have to pay government duty, their imported potatoes captured markets fast due to cheaper price.

During last flood and in the month of Ramadan, potato price rose abnormally. Each sack of potato was sold at between Tk 800 to 900 in wholesale market while retail price of each kg potato was between Tk 12 to 13.

From the very beginning of potato cultivation season, imported potatoes are being sold in markets in name of seeds at poor price.

Local traders and farmers who preserved potato in cold storage to use as potato seeds or for consumption last season are being deprived of fair price due to abnormal fall in its demand now.

In four cold storages of the district, about 25,000 sacks of potato are still lying while newly harvested potatoes already arrived in markets. Because of lack of demand, traders and farmers are not interested to release stored potato from cold storages.

Storage charge of each sack of potato ranges between Tk 180 to 200 in different cold storages which is higher than price for each sack of potato.

Meanwhile, the cold storage authorities sent letters and messengers to their clients to lift their preserved goods but in vain. Finding no way out, they are selling out stored potatoes in auction to realise money which is possible only partially.

According to cold storage owners, they won't be able to repay bank loan taken last season. Bangladesh Cold Storage Association asked the government to take appropriate measures in this regard.