Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The fall of potato price in the country’s eight northern districts has left farmers and traders in despair.
During the last season, farmers produced record 3.2 million (32 lakh) tonnes of potato in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts, The Daily Star, a local newspaper, reported quoting sources.
In absence of lack of sufficient cold storages, farmers preserved a large quantity of potato at their houses in traditional manner. A good amount of potato was also sold to other districts while rest 4,32,734 tonnes of potato was preserved in 54 cold storages in the eight districts, the newspaper said.
As the potato preservation season (considered to be till November 15) nearing its end, a large number of farmers and traders have started lifting potato from cold storages, leading to its additional supply and consequent price fall.
Retail prices at local markets have also come down from BDT 16 a kg to BDT 12, according to the newspaper reports.
BBN/SI/SS/AD-20October08-12:19 PM (BST)
