Potato overproduction fuels farmers’ anxiety

Despite a bumper harvest in the fields, farmer Jamal Mir has no smile on his face. The field full of potatoes he watched grow has now robbed him of his sleep. He is worried about where to store such a large quantity, how to preserve it, and whether he will even recover his production costs—profit is far beyond consideration.

Jamal Mir does not own any land. To sustain his family, he cultivates crops on leased land. Before dawn breaks, he heads to the fields, where he works throughout the day.

This year, he leased 125 decimals of land for Tk 50,000, which he had saved from selling Aman paddy, he said. Hoping for better prices, he cultivated potatoes on the land, and the yield was good.

However, the pile of potatoes in the field has not brought him relief; instead, it has become a new source of anxiety in his life.

This is not just the story of a farmer in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali. It reflects the continuous struggle of thousands of farmers—against the soil, against prices, and against uncertainty.

Speaking to Jamal, his frustration becomes clear. He said, “Around Tk 200,000 has been spent on pesticides and labour. The yield is good, but we are not getting a fair price. Even the production cost is not being recovered from sales.”

Given the current market situation, he remains uncertain whether he will even be able to sell his potatoes. Meanwhile, the lack of cold storage facilities leaves him with no option for preservation. The sight of clouds in the sky makes his heart sink—just a little rain could destroy everything. Then not only his crops but also his entire seasonal dream would be washed away.

Jamal is not alone; many farmers in the upazila face the same situation. Potato farmer Ayub Howlader said he spends nearly Tk 25,000 per bigha but is forced to sell at Tk 15,000–20,000, incurring losses of Tk 5,000–10,000 per bigha.

Rezaul Matubbar also expressed similar frustration. “After covering all costs, nothing is left in hand,” he said, before falling silent.

Local farmer Ambia further highlighted the crisis, saying, “We work from morning to evening for barely any money. There is no fair price in the market, and no place to store potatoes—so we cover them in the field with soil. If prices rise later, we will sell. But even a little rain ruins the potatoes. Then we are completely devastated.”

He also expressed hope that government storage facilities could help farmers secure better prices.

Three years ago, Patuakhali was the top potato-producing district in the Barishal division. However, due to storage constraints and price instability, cultivation has declined by more than half. In Galachipa alone, potato cultivation fell from 400 hectares in 2024 to just 260 hectares in 2026.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potato cultivation in Patuakhali stood at 1,035 hectares last year but dropped to 613 hectares this year.

Officials from the agriculture department have also expressed concern over the situation. Galachipa Upazila Additional Agriculture Officer Md. Akramuzzaman said that although average production reaches around 25 tonnes per hectare, farmers are forced to sell at low prices during the harvest season due to a lack of storage facilities. As a result, losses have become an annual reality.

He added that although the target was to cultivate 365 hectares this year, farmers’ reluctance prevented it from being achieved. He warned that without storage facilities, cultivation is likely to decline further in the coming years, which could have a significant impact on the local economy.

According to Patuakhali Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Amanul Islam, cold storage facilities are essential to sustain potato production potential in the region. He said 170 farmers received seed, fertilizer, and credit support through the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation this year. While a portion of the harvested potatoes could be stored in cold storage in Barishal, most are being sold in the local market at low prices.

Local administration, however, sees a glimmer of hope. Galachipa Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mahmudul Hasan said discussions are underway with local businessmen, public representatives, and relevant authorities regarding the establishment of a cold storage facility. He added that effective steps will be taken soon.

Until then, farmers like Jamal Mir continue to face uncertainty every day. No matter how good the harvest is, lack of fair prices and storage facilities has turned the crop into their biggest source of worry.