Farmers in Dinajpur are experiencing a profitable season for early-harvest potatoes, with market prices soaring higher than in previous seasons.
Notably, the prices of old potatoes have also remained robust. However, farmers are voicing concerns about middlemen exploiting syndicates, leading to increased profits for the intermediaries.
Dinajpur, known as a grain storehouse, boasts fertile loam soil that supports the cultivation of various crops, including potatoes.
The district plays a crucial role in supplying potatoes to meet the demand in different parts of the country.
Ulipur village in Auliapur union, Sadar upazila, stands out as a hub for early potato cultivation in Dinajpur. Despite facing natural disasters such as untimely rains, farmers are diligently harvesting early potato varieties. Simultaneously, wholesalers are procuring cotton and potatoes directly from the fields.
Trucks laden with potatoes are traversing various destinations, including Dhaka and Barisal, showcasing the profitability of early potato cultivation for farmers.
However, the journey from the field to the market involves multiple intermediaries, leading to a surge in potato prices.
Farmers, despite receiving high prices, express discontent, arguing that middlemen are reaping more significant profits than they are.
The discrepancy in potato prices from the field to the market ranges from 10 to 15 taka per kg, according to farmers.
Traders attribute the price increase to the supply of potatoes to other districts and claim that retailers are further inflating prices. Retailers, in turn, blame middlemen for raising prices by demanding more than the transportation cost from the field to the market.
Despite the high prices, potato farmers remain dissatisfied, asserting that intermediaries are the primary beneficiaries.
Farmers like Mizanur Rahman and Ranjan Roy acknowledge better prices than the previous year, but they emphasize that intermediaries are pocketing a considerable share of the profits.
Noor Alam, a potato trader, shares insights into the pricing dynamics, mentioning that initial purchases were at Tk 35 to Tk 36 per kg, later increasing to Tk 40 per kg at the field.
With transportation costs factored in, he sells potatoes to retail sellers at Tk 45 per kg in the market.
The increased demand in outer districts and a shortage of old potatoes contribute to the current price hike.
Mozaffar Hossain, another potato trader, notes a lower potato yield this year due to recent rains damaging seed potatoes.
The production per bigha has significantly decreased, impacting supply.
Hossain explains that potatoes from Dinajpur are reaching different parts of the country, and the current scarcity of old potatoes is further driving up prices.
According to the Dinajpur Directorate of Agriculture, the district cultivated potatoes on 47,390 hectares of land in 2022, yielding 10,70,326 metric tons.
In 2023, cultivation covered 45,500 hectares, producing 11,59,175 metric tons.
The current season targets potato cultivation on 47,390 hectares, with 10,000 hectares dedicated to early varieties.
Md Nuruzzaman, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, highlights that Dinajpur's potatoes meet the national demand, emphasizing the cultivation of early varieties covering 25 percent of the district's total potato cultivation.