Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) has requested the authorities of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to take measures to stop illegal influx of Indian potatoes into Bangladesh. They also requested the authorities concerned including the Ministry of Agriculture to take action in this connection.
Local growers and traders, who have preserved potato in cold storages for use in the upcoming lean period, are not getting due prices as the Indian potato is being sold at prices much lower than those of the local produce.
According to sources, a new variety of Indian low-quality potato named "Utkal" has flooded the local markets bordering the districts of West Bengal. "All frontier markets in Satkhira and Jessore, from Kaliganj to Benapole, are flooded with Indian potato," said Md Mohshin, proprietor of Ice and Cold Storage in Satkhira.
These Indian potatoes are being sold at Tk 15-17 per kg in local markets as against Tk 28-30 a kg of local varieties. "Despite low quality and poor taste people are going for the Indian variety because of the low prices," said Mohshin.
According to industry insiders, prices of local varieties of potato have come down substantially in recent days with the arrival of the Indian variety.
On an overage, the country produced about 8.5 million tonnes of potatoes annually over last few years. In the fiscal year (FY) 2012-13, potato production reached an all-time high of 9.5 million tonnes. But the farmers didn't get fair prices and many of them destroyed and dumped their potatoes on highways due to low prices.
Because of favourable weather, industry people also expect bumper production in the ensuing season, but they will be affected greatly unless the government checks foray of Indian potato into the country right now.
Most of the cold storage operators are now busy with releasing old stocks to prepare their cold storages for the next crop. But many of them, sources said, are struggling to release their stocks because of the low prices. Many are selling their produce stored in cold storages even at lower prices than usual for the diminishing demand mainly due to influx of Indian crop.
