Malda, Nov. 2 -- A decision to store potatoes in the hope of better returns has turned into a major financial setback for farmers in Malda. With prices crashing, many are refusing to withdraw their produce from cold storages, leaving operators struggling for space.
A bond for a 50-kg sack, which cost around Rs 250 when potatoes were stored, is now fetching just Rs 25-50. In some places, prices have fallen to Rs 25-30, leaving farmers unable to recover even their transportation and labour costs.
Pramod Sarkar, a farmer from Sahajadpur Gram Panchayat, stored 200 sacks at a cold storage in Panchagram, South Dinajpur. He spent Rs 6,000 on transportation and Rs 2,000 on advance bonds. The current value of 100 sacks is only Rs 2,500-3,000. "I cannot even recover my transportation expenses. I will not bring the potatoes out of the cold storage," he said.
Another farmer, Ujjal Das, said potato cultivation costs around Rs 30,000 per bigha, with many farmers depending on bank loans and private lenders.
"At least Rs 700 per quintal would have helped us earn some profit. The present prices have left us helpless," he said.
Farmers blame bumper production, the suspension of exports to Bangladesh and declining demand from traditional markets such as Assam and Odisha. These states are increasingly meeting their requirements through local production and sourcing potatoes from other regions.
The crisis has also discouraged farmers from future cultivation. "After suffering such heavy losses, I am unsure whether I will cultivate potatoes again," said Sunil Hembram.
Gazole has around 15 cold storages with a combined capacity of 30-32 lakh sacks. Nearly 35 per cent of the stored potatoes remain unsold.
Cold storage director Biswajit Kundu said: "If farmers do not withdraw their potatoes, where will we store such
huge quantities?"
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.