Potato farmers in the northern region held hostage by private syndicates
Since the beginning of this year, potato prices have been on the rise. Compared to this time last year, prices have doubled, and in some cases tripled. On the other hand, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) is unable to supply sufficient seeds.
Taking this opportunity, various private organizations including BRAC have doubled the price of seed potatoes, holding farmers hostage. Farmers in the northern region are crying out for a seed potato crisis. District administrators are trying to resolve the crisis.
More potatoes are cultivated in Rajshahi, Bogra and Rangpur districts of the northern region. As soon as the Aman harvest begins, farmers have prepared land for potato cultivation. They have stocked up on advance fertilizer and irrigation systems. But they are unable to plant due to the seed crisis.
They say that the seed allocation from the government agency BADC is less than last year. Although the demand for these seeds is high, most farmers are not getting them. BADC dealers are taking the allocation and selling it outside the warehouse. These seeds are being sold to retail dealers through vendors. As a result, farmers have to buy these seeds at double the price.
According to BADC Rajshahi Division sources, 433 tons of seed potatoes of different varieties have been allocated to BADC dealers in four districts of Rajshahi in the current season. On the other hand, the total allocation including direct sales is 2,728 tons. However, the demand for seed potatoes in these four districts is 172,000 tons. 2,797 tons of government seed potatoes have been allocated for the five districts of Rangpur.
Although the demand is 167,000 tons. And 6,350 tons have been allocated for the two districts of BADC Bogra region. Out of this, it has been decided to distribute 955 tons through research institutes and NGOs. However, there is a target of potato cultivation in 55,657 hectares of land in Bogra district alone. 85 tons of seed potatoes are required to cultivate potatoes in this amount of land.
It was learned from talking to farmers that last season, seed potatoes were sold at 45-50 taka per kg. And they were bought from various commercial companies including BRAC and ACI at 65-70 taka per kg. But this time, seed potatoes have to be bought from BRAC and other companies at 100 taka per kg. The same seed dealers are selling them at 150 taka per kg. The B-grade seeds of these companies are also being sold at 80-85 taka. Last year, these seeds were 60-65 taka.
Lutfar Rahman of Tanore has prepared to cultivate potatoes on 150 bighas of land this time. But he could not plant them due to the shortage of seeds. He said that farmers across Rajshahi are crying out for seeds. He did not even get 2500 kg of seeds from BRAC in advance.
Another potato farmer, Habibur Rahman, alleged that private stockists are taking seed potatoes out of the cold storage and selling them in the market. Due to this, the farmers have become hostages to the companies and dealers. BRAC’s marketing manager Aminul Islam was contacted but did not answer the phone.
According to sources from the Rajshahi Regional Department of Agricultural Extension, the largest potato cultivation area in the northern region is in Bogra. This season, a target of 365,000 hectares of land has been set for cultivation in 16 districts of the northern region. A target of 9855,000 tonnes of potato production has been set in these districts at a yield of 27 tonnes per hectare.
Mahmudul Faruk, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said that preparations for potato cultivation have started well in Rajshahi, Bogra and Rangpur regions. I have heard about a seed shortage in a couple of places. There are sufficient seed potatoes in the cold storages, there will be no problem in cultivation. He said that 98 lakh to 10 crore tonnes of potatoes are expected to be produced in the northern region alone this season.
Farmers say that the government’s potato seed supply is insufficient compared to the demand. Some commercial farmers have their seeds stored in cold storage. But thousands of marginal farmers have to rely on seeds supplied by various companies.
It has been alleged that various companies, including BRAC, have increased the prices in the situation of potato seed crisis. Capitalizing on this crisis, local dealers of BADC and various companies are also creating an artificial crisis and charging higher prices. Again, BRAC dealers are not even answering the farmers’ phones as they are unable to supply seed potatoes.
Rajshahi District Fertilizer Seed Monitoring Committee President and Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhtar said, the issue of potato seed crisis has come to our attention. We have already held a meeting with the Upazila Executive Officer, BADC, Agricultural Extension Department, cold storage owners and representatives of various seed marketing companies. They are also working in the field to resolve the crisis. I hope there will be no seed crisis.
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Credit: Dainikamadershomoy
