Thakurgaon farmers seek storage fee cut

Potato farmers and traders in Thakurgaon formed a human chain on Sunday, demanding that cold storage charges be reduced to Tk 5 per kilogram.

The hour-long programme was held at 11:00 am on the district collectorate premises under the banner of the Potato Value Chain Promotional Body, an organization representing potato farmers and stakeholders in the district.

Participants carried the slogan: “If farmers survive, the country survives; Bangladesh comes first.”

Among those who addressed the human chain were President of the District Potato Farmers’ Association Mohammad Lutfor Rahman, General Secretary Ataur Rahman, Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahim, and President of the Baliadangi Potato Farmers’ Association Abdus Salam, among others.

The speakers said that high cold storage charges have significantly increased production costs for farmers, while low market prices for potatoes have left them suffering heavy losses.

They alleged that cold storage owners are currently charging Tk 8 per kilogram, which they described as unfair to farmers.

Demanding that the charge be reduced to Tk 5 per kilogram, they said that producing one kilogram of potatoes costs between Tk 17 and Tk 18, while an additional Tk 8 must be paid for storage.

As potato prices remain low in the market, farmers are suffering severe financial losses, they said.

Since potatoes are a perishable agricultural product, cold storage facilities are essential for proper preservation, and farmers have no alternative.

The speakers further alleged that cold storage owners have repeatedly increased storage charges without justification, with rates more than doubling over the past three years.

They warned that larger protest programmes would be launched if their demand for reducing storage charges is not met.