Haor famers disoriented for seed potato crisis

Alam Sarowar Tito, Kishoreganj  :

With the beginning of potato cultivation season, farmers of haor areas are worried about shortage of quality seeds and its high price.
Although the weather is favorable, the season for cultivation of early varieties of potatoes has started in haor areas of Kishoreganj . Farmers blamed syndicates of some dishonest, seed dealers and traders for creating an artificial crisis, Leading to its high price.
According to the annual reports of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS),a total of 106 lakh tons potatoes produced in Bangladesh in the past 2023-24 fiscal year.
However, farmers alleged that, BADC dealers are also changing high prices, alleging a shortage of potato seeds. There is no supervision of the concerned department
Md.Morshed Mia, a potato farmer in Elongjuri union of Itna haor upazila said that during the season, the traders took tk. 20 to 25 per kg from the farmers, they are selling the same potatoes to the farmers at the rate of tk.70-75 during the planting season.
Farmer Habibullah complain that dishonest businessmen increasing the prices by taking out less potatoes than the demand and creating an artificial crisis.
The DAE officials said that, the main two reasons behind the shortage of potato seeds were potato cultivation is more areas and selling of seeds as ‘Food Potatoes ‘ in the market due to good price. Farmers have sold out their preserved potatoes in the market since the price of the crop was good.
Apart from this, the farmers have to pay huge expenses including fertilizer, potato planting care, pesticides and harvesting. Later, if the weather turns hostile and the root rots, the farmer has to sit on the road.
The kitchen market has gained in winter vegetables, the prices have not decreased .
Many farmers complain that they do not get fair price while selling their crops to the traders, while the farmers have to buy everything including fertilizers, seeds and pesticides at high prices. If the government is not able to control the syndicate, this season’s potato production target may also be disrupted.