Potato prices in Bangladesh have fallen below Tk 20 (US$0.17) per kilogram, compared with Tk 25 (US$0.21) a month ago, creating losses for growers amid oversupply.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh reported retail prices between Tk 18 and Tk 25 (US$0.15–0.21) per kilogram, down from Tk 25–30 (US$0.21–0.25) a month earlier. Prices are 61% lower than last year, when potatoes sold at Tk 50–60 (US$0.42–0.50). At the wholesale level, traders reported Tk 11–12 (US$0.09–0.10) per kilogram.

Delwar Hossain, a wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, said, “Potato supply has overrun the market, which is why prices have started to fall.” He reported selling at Tk 12 (US$0.10) per kilogram. Another trader, Mohammad Sabuj, said he has been buying from Munshiganj at Tk 11 (US$0.09) per kilogram and selling at Tk 11.66 (US$0.10). Purchases from Bogura, Rajshahi, and Rangpur cost Tk 12–15 (US$0.10–0.13).

Bangladesh produced 11.5 million tonnes of potatoes last season, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, against domestic demand of about 9 million tonnes. The Cold Storage Association estimated that 1 million tonnes are used for seed, while part of the crop is processed into chips and crackers. Exports reached 62,000 tonnes in 2024/25, leaving a large surplus in storage.

At the start of the season, farmers sold at Tk 11 (US$0.09) per kilogram, below the government’s estimated average production cost of Tk 14 (US$0.12). In the north, costs were reported at Tk 20 (US$0.17).

Farmer Ashraf Sarker from Munshiganj said, “Last month, I sold potatoes at Tk 9 per kg, even though my production cost was Tk 31 per kg. I still have 12,500 kg of potatoes in cold storage.” He said he spent nearly Tk 500,000 (US$4,200) last season but has so far sold only Tk 80,000 (US$670) worth.

In August, the government announced a procurement of 50,000 tonnes and set a minimum cold storage gate price of Tk 22 (US$0.18) per kilogram. Traders said neither measure has been implemented.

Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, president of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, said, “Currently, around 1.2 million tonnes of potatoes remain in storage, with only about two and a half months left to sell them.” He noted that potatoes are selling at Tk 10–11 (US$0.08–0.09) at the cold storage level, below the set price.

“Farmers held back potatoes expecting government procurement, but when that didn’t happen, stocks piled up. Now, with limited time left, everyone is releasing their potatoes into the market, which has caused prices to fall sharply,” he said.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh said procurement will begin at the end of the month.

Source: The Daily Star