Rangpur: Enterprising farmers in the Rangpur agricultural region have achieved remarkable success by producing 28,56,065 tonnes of potatoes during the 2025-2026 Rabi season. This production exceeded the set target of 25,19,008 tonnes by 3,37,057 tonnes, marking a 13.38 percent increase.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Krishibid Md Shirajul Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Rangpur region, attributed this success to various forms of government assistance and satisfactory prices in the previous year. The DAE had initially set a production target of 25,19,008 tonnes from 1,01,700 hectares of land spanning across Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari districts. However, farmers expanded their cultivation to 1,05,885 hectares, surpassing the target by 4,185 hectares or 4.12 percent, with an average yield of 26.97 tonnes per hectare.
In previous years, farmers produced 32,30,682 tonnes of potatoes from 1,19,729 hectares during the 2024-2025 Rabi season and 26,29,893 tonnes in the 2023-2024 season. Last year’s favorable prices were driven by significant exports to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Currently, there are 71 cold storage facilities in the region, with a total capacity to store 7,32,572 tonnes of potatoes. These facilities are nearly full, leading to an excess supply in the local market and a subsequent decline in potato prices. The demand for potato varieties like ‘Santa’, Diamond, ‘Kumbika Alouette’, and ‘Asterisk’ remains high in international markets, with exports to countries including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.
Potato trader Hafizur Rahman reported that farmers are selling 70-kilogram sacks of these varieties at Taka 900 to Taka 950 in wholesale markets. In contrast, local varieties like ‘Sheel Alu’ and ‘Jhau Alu’ are fetching between Taka 1,600 and Taka 1,800. Retail prices range from Taka 18 to 20 for common varieties and Taka 32 to 35 for local varieties in kitchen markets.
The decline in potato prices is attributed to the recent surplus production and inadequate cold storage facilities. Former President of Rangpur Chamber, Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, has urged the government to increase storage capacities, establish agro-based industries, and boost exports to ensure fair pricing for farmers. Local potato growers are hopeful that government initiatives will make potato farming sustainably profitable in the future.