Temporary expansion of import stations in Bangladesh raises concerns among local potato growers

In Bangladesh, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has added five more customs stations for potato imports from Nepal and Bhutan, bringing the total to nine. These stations, including Rohonpur, Sonahat, and Sheola, aim to diversify supply sources. This measure, introduced in response to earlier price spikes, is temporary and will end in March.

Potato prices previously soared to Tk 80 ($0.93) per kilogram, prompting the government to take action. However, current prices have plummeted to Tk 13 ($0.15) in fields and Tk 15 ($0.17) at retail, raising concerns about significant losses for local farmers due to an oversupply.

A farmer from Dinajpur criticized the imports, stating they are harming local producers already burdened by surplus production. He urged the government to halt imports and take steps to stabilize farmers' earnings.

The NBR official, Kazi Mostafizur Rahman, explained that the decision to open new stations was made during the price surge and took about three weeks to finalize. Bangladesh's potato production has reached a record 1.06 million tons, surpassing the annual demand of 850,000 to 900,000 tons. In 2023-24, the country also imported 150,000 tons of potatoes from India, adding to the current market challenges for local farmers.

source: thedailystar.net

photo: bangladeshbiponee.com