Frustration grows among Kurigram’s potato farmers as bumper yield, exports fail to bring profit

Farmers say that potatoes are currently selling for Tk 10-12 per kg in the wholesale market, well below the cost of production

In Kurigram, the production of potatoes this season has surpassed both the target and local demand. But a feeling of frustration pervades farmers as they are being forced to sell their yields at half the cost of production, leading to significant losses.

Although the recent opportunity to export potatoes to Malaysia and Nepal has helped reduce some of these losses, it has not been enough for the farmers to turn a profit. They believe that with government support, their financial burden could have been eased further.

According to the Kurigram District Agricultural Extension Department, the initial target for potato cultivation was set at 7,100 hectares. However, farmers ended up cultivating potatoes on 8,000 hectares. This surplus production has led to a drop in market prices, leaving farmers struggling to recover their investment.

Currently, potatoes are being sold in the wholesale market for Tk 10-12 per kg. With prices this low, many farmers have chosen to leave their potatoes in the fields, hoping for a better market rate. While the new export avenue has given them some hope, the low prices mean profits remain elusive.

Shafiqul, a farmer from Char Sardob village in Holokhana Union, cultivated potatoes on 30 decimals of land, investing Tk 40,000.

“This year, I had a good harvest. But with potatoes selling at just Tk 8-10 per kg, I left them in the field. When I heard about the export opportunity, I sold my potatoes to a wholesaler at Tk 12 per kg, earning around Tk 25,000. Even then, I still lost Tk 15,000,” he said.

Changing weather conditions have also affected the size of the potatoes, leading suppliers to reject smaller or irregularly shaped produce. Exporters are only accepting potatoes that weigh between 80 and 400 grams, making it even harder for farmers to sell their crops.

Kader Mia, another farmer from Char Sardob, cultivated potatoes on 95 acres, investing nearly Tk 20 million.

“I am extremely worried about the current market situation. If prices don’t increase soon, I will suffer a huge financial loss,” he said.

He explained that the cost of potato farming has risen sharply. Renting one acre of land costs Tk 40,000, while purchasing 1,000 potato seeds costs Tk 70,000. Additional expenses for fertiliser, irrigation, pesticides and labour amount to around Tk 90,000 per acre, bringing the total investment per acre to Tk 200,000.

Each acre produces around 200 sacks of potatoes, with each sack weighing 60 kg—amounting to a total of 12,000 kg per acre. This means the production cost per kg is Tk 16.66. Selling at Tk 10-12 per kg results in major financial losses for farmers.

Sirajul Islam, a potato exporter from Kurigram Sadar Upazila, said that in January, five truckloads carrying 75 tonnes of potatoes were sent from Kurigram to Chattogram port for export to Malaysia and Nepal. He hopes that if demand continues to grow, farmers will be able to recover some of their losses.

Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy director of the Kurigram District Agricultural Extension Department, reassured farmers, saying, “The good news is that international demand for potatoes is rising. However, farmers will only benefit if they can sell at fair prices.”