A record 1.12 crore metric tonnes of potatoes were produced in 2025, about 22 lakh metric tonnes more than the country's demand, according to Agriculture Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Friday.
Depending on the area, the cost of producing potatoes in 2025 ranges from Taka 14 to Taka 17 per kilogramme (kg). The price at the cold storage gate is Taka 20–25 per kg, which includes labour, sacks, storage, transportation, and other costs. On the other hand, farmers are compelled to sell potatoes at the cold storage gate for Taka 8–16 per kg, which is significantly less than their cost of production and results in financial losses, he said.
According to an official release, the adviser asked the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association to prolong the preservation of old potatoes in order to assist farmers in recovering their losses.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association's inaugural Potato Festival on Friday morning at the capital's Bashundhara International Convention Centre, he made the request.
Lt Gen Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) stated that new potatoes will take an extra 15 days to reach the market in 2025 and that the Cold Storage Association has been urged to keep preserving old potatoes in order to offset the losses experienced by growers. He stated, "Therefore, the decision has been taken in the greater interest of farmers."
“Although storage owners may incur some losses due to increased electricity bills, the farmers-who are the backbone of food production-will benefit,” he added.
The adviser also called upon the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to reduce production costs per kilogram of potatoes.
He went on to say that despite Bangladesh's high potato production, the nation lags behind in the processing sector. In Bangladesh, only 2% of potatoes are processed, compared to 7% in many other nations. As a result, he emphasised the importance of choosing processing-ready potato varieties and giving processing priority.
In order to help farmers, the advisor also stated that prices on imported potato seed packets should be prominently displayed.
Regarding onion prices, he claimed that even though there were enough onions produced in 2025, some people's manipulation caused the price to increase by Taka 35 per kg in a single day. The government was forced to permit the importation of onions for the benefit of consumers. Until the market price falls to Taka 70–80 per kg, imports will continue.
Special guests at the event included Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian and Bangladesh Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr AK Fazlul Haque.
Government and private sector officials, leaders of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, cold storage owners from various districts, potato farmers, business leaders and entrepreneurs attended the programme.
