FROM PAGE B4

The situation is similar in other northern regions such as Thakurgaon and Panchagarh, farmers said.

In Joypurhat, farmers are selling their produce dirt cheap.

Growers from all over come to sell potatoes at Natunhat in Joypurhat every morning but the prices being offered are a cause for despair, farmers said.

Each maund (around 37 kgs) of good quality potato is trading between Tk 300 and Tk 350 depending on variety.

Khandakar Md Mezbahul Islam, a former agronomist of the Rangpur DAE, said such problems occur year after year due to a lack of planning in this respect.

Such problems arose as the market supply increased after harvesting of the seasonal crop started altogether across the country.

“The solution is to harvest the potatoes being grown in different districts at separate times,” he said, adding that around 1.06 crore tonnes of potato are produced in the country each year against an annual consumption of about 80 lakh tonnes.

“Farmers suffer losses for such surplus production. Each kg of potato should be available for between Tk 25 to Tk 30 in local markets,” Islam added.