Farmers in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur are discarding large quantities of potatoes after a sharp decline in market prices left them unable to recover production costs. Many growers, facing losses of up to Tk 15 per kilogram, have been forced to dump their produce as storage facilities reach capacity and potatoes begin to rot in the humid weather.

In Salapak area, farmer Tahizar Rahman reported producing about 400 sacks of potatoes this season but could not sell them profitably. Other farmers, including Shefali Begum and Abdul Kader, said they are struggling with debt and lack of cold storage space. The only cold storage in the upazila, with a capacity of 150,000 sacks, is already full, forcing farmers to keep potatoes at home where they quickly spoil.

According to the upazila agriculture office, 5,310 hectares were cultivated this season, yielding 154,207 tons—far exceeding local demand. Officials cited poor market management, limited storage, and adverse weather as key causes. Farmers are demanding fair prices, more storage facilities, and government incentives to prevent future losses.