Potato Farmers Face Fresh Losses as Prices Crash Again
Potato farmers across northern districts are once again counting heavy losses as market prices plunge below production costs, deepening a crisis that began last season.
After suffering significant losses last year due to a sharp fall in prices, many farmers had hoped to recover in the new season. Instead, they are facing a repeat of the same hardship. Wholesale prices in several districts have dropped to Tk 12–15 per kg, while in some areas of Thakurgaon and Rangpur, new potatoes are reportedly selling for as low as Tk 4–6 per kg. Production costs, however, range between Tk 14 and Tk 18 per kg.
Farmers say they are unable to recover even their basic investment. On average, cultivating one bigha of land costs Tk 70,000–80,000, including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, labor, and transport. With current prices, many are incurring losses of Tk 15,000–25,000 per bigha.
The crisis has been worsened by large stocks of unsold potatoes from the previous season still stored in cold storage facilities. High storage costs—Tk 300–400 per maund—along with interest and transport expenses, have discouraged many farmers from storing their produce this year.
Last year, the government announced incentives and a plan to procure 50,000 tons of potatoes directly from farmers to stabilize prices. Although funds were allocated, farmers claim they have yet to receive any financial support, and the procurement plan was not implemented.
Agricultural economists warn that repeated price collapses, delayed incentives, and weak market management are pushing farmers into deeper debt. Without effective government procurement, improved storage management, and export expansion, they say, surplus production will continue to turn into a burden rather than a benefit for farmers.
