Govt plans subsidies for potato farmers: Adviser
The new potato harvest has begun arriving in small volumes and is likely to be delayed by around 15 days, he says
The government is considering subsidies for potato growers who incurred losses in last year's cultivation, Agriculture Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today (7 December).
"Potato farmers have suffered significantly this year. We are exploring the possibility of providing subsidies to support them," he told a press briefing on the overall agricultural situation at the Secretariat.
He said the new potato harvest has begun arriving in small volumes and is likely to be delayed by around 15 days.
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"If old stocks are cleared by then, it will help stabilise the market. We have instructed cold storage operators to hold potatoes until December so farmers can sell their entire stock," he added.
Asked about how the subsidy would be implemented, Jahangir Alam said discussions are underway.
The adviser also noted a sharp decline in seed potato prices compared to last year.
"A carton of seed potatoes that sold for Tk 40,000–42,000 last year now costs around Tk 12,000. I have directed officials to keep records of prices. Anyone manipulating the market will face action," he said.
