Human chain, press conference in Kurigram demanding increase of seed potato prices
Kurigram Correspondent
Farmers in Kurigram held a human chain and press conference to demand relief from the increase in potato seed prices and losses. After the press conference, the farmers of the contracted potato seed association submitted a memorandum to the Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).
The human chain and press conference were held in front of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation office in Trimohani area of Kurigram Sadar on Sunday afternoon.
Press conference to demand the contract potato seed association president Md. Kamruzzaman said that the contract farmers producing seed potatoes in the Kurigram zone under the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) have been providing seed potatoes to BADC on a contractual basis for the past 10 (ten) years. Last year, the price of potato seeds from BADC was fixed at 45/46 taka per kg depending on the grade. The selling price was fixed at 33/34/35 taka depending on the grade.
This year, the purchase price per kg of seed from BADC was 58/62/72 taka. The cost of producing each kg of seed, including planting, labor, fertilizer, irrigation, pesticides and other costs, is about 30 (thirty) taka.
Farmers also say that not all potatoes produced are counted as seeds. Many potatoes are discarded. In addition, the cost of producing potatoes is high and seed potatoes produce about 90 (ninety) manats less than the potatoes consumed per acre.
In total, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation has set the price of grade-based potato seeds per kilogram at 26/28 taka this year. Which is extremely low compared to the cost of production and is causing serious losses for farmers who provide seed potatoes on a contractual basis.
Which makes it impossible for the farmers to recover the losses.
Through today's human chain and press conference, the BADC called on the authorities to fix the price of seed potatoes at 40 (forty) taka per kilogram.
Present at the event were the President of the Contracted Potato Seed Association, Md. Abdor Razzak, General Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman, Deputy General Secretary Md. Anwarul Islam, Organizing Secretary Tahidul Islam, Lutfar Rahman and other farmers from various unions of Kurigram district.
