Potato farmers in Sharankhola Upazila of Bagerhat are facing a potential crisis this season as interest in potato cultivation has sharply declined. Many farmers are still struggling to recover losses from last season, when despite high production, they were unable to get fair prices for their crops. As a result, some farmers have decided to reduce potato cultivation or switch to alternative crops entirely. This hesitation has also put seed potato traders in a dilemma, raising concerns of a potential shortage of potatoes in the region.
High Costs, Low Returns
Last year, farmers paid between Tk 3,000 and 3,500 for a 50 kg sack of seed potatoes, translating to Tk 60–70 per kg. Depending on the type of land, total expenses—including cultivation, irrigation, seed, fertilizers, pesticides, and labor—reached Tk 80,000 to 100,000 per bigha. However, due to the lack of proper storage facilities, most farmers had to sell their potatoes directly from the fields at very low prices. In many cases, sales revenue covered less than half of the production costs, causing widespread losses and discouraging farmers from taking risks this season.
Production Data and Market Impact
According to the Agriculture Department, last year potato cultivation covered 788 bighas (105 hectares) across four unions in Sharankhola. The average yield was 30 maunds per bigha, resulting in a total production of 2,244 metric tons. Due to the abundant harvest, large stocks of old potatoes remain in cold storage across the country, keeping market prices low. Consequently, seed potato prices this season have dropped nearly by half, reducing cultivation costs and offering farmers a potential opportunity for profit.
Farmers’ Perspective
Dulu Talukder from Rajair village said, “I cultivated 6 bighas last year and produced 2,100 maunds. Despite spending Tk 80,000 per bigha, the sale price at harvest barely covered half of my costs. I sold potatoes at Tk 700–800 per maund directly from the field, suffering a total loss of Tk 300,000. This year, I am only cultivating 2 bighas to minimize risk.”
Sohel Farazi, also from Rajair, added, “I grew potatoes on 5 bighas last year. Hoping for better prices, I stored much of the harvest in the field, but most of it rotted. I lost Tk 500,000 and won’t be cultivating potatoes this season.”
Several other farmers, including Badal Howlader, Bacchu Howlader, Hemayet Farazi, Rafique Talukder, and Belayet Talukder, expressed similar concerns. Some are reducing the cultivated area by half, while others plan to switch entirely to Boro paddy.
Seed Potato Traders Concerned
Seed potato traders in Rayenda Bazar, Sharankhola, including Md Nasir Molla and A. Hakim Talukder, said that large-scale farmers typically source seeds directly from Munshiganj. Last year, their two trading houses sold nearly 1,500 maunds of seed potatoes, with prices ranging from Tk 3,000 to Tk 3,500 per 50 kg sack. Despite significant investment, farmers did not receive fair returns, leading to reduced interest in potato cultivation this season.
Agriculture Department’s Efforts
Sharankhola Upazila Agriculture Officer Debbrat Sarkar said last year’s high production coupled with high costs caused prices to drop, resulting in losses. “Although interest is lower this season, we are holding village-level meetings to encourage farmers. Our target this year is to cultivate potatoes on 110 hectares.”
He added that Sharankhola’s coastal geography, saline soils, and late Aman rice harvest cause delays in potato and other Rabi crop cultivation. By the time new potatoes from northern regions reach the market, local planting begins, which often prevents farmers from obtaining fair prices.
The combination of previous losses, late cultivation, and market dynamics is shaping a challenging season for potato farmers in the coastal upazila.
