Potato farmers in Kalai suffer massive losses as cold storages overflow

Potato growers and merchants in Joypurhat’s Kalai region are watching their investments collapse as warehouses remain jammed with produce nobody wants to purchase. Roughly 13,900 metric tons sit inside 11 refrigerated facilities across the district, representing approximately 156 crore taka in losses. Farmers worry the crisis will deepen as planting time arrives in November and December, while mountains of last season’s harvest go unsold.

Storage facilities were supposed to empty by Oct. 30 under government regulations, but sellers refuse to move inventory at rates that would cost them 750 taka per bag. Abdul Alim Akand from Surail village bought 4,000 sacks for 64 lakh taka but managed to sell them for just 4.96 lakh, losing 59 lakh. Production expenses hit 21 to 22 taka per kilogram while market rates plunged to between 8.5 and 9.5 taka, creating losses of 19 to 20 taka per kilogram.

Officials from the Commerce Ministry promised in September to buy potatoes at 22 taka per kilogram through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, but nearly two months later, the program has yet to begin. District Agricultural Marketing Officer Mehedi Hasan confirmed no implementation orders have reached local offices despite the ministry’s decision.