15,000 maunds potatoes rot in cold storages in Joypurhat alone

Farmers and traders in Joypurhat are facing significant losses as 15,000 maunds of potatoes have rotted in two cold storages this season. 

Reports suggest one-third of the stored potato bags were affected, leaving farmers frustrated with the lack of accountability and compensation from cold storage authorities.

However, the cold storage management blames farmers and traders for the spoilage, citing immature potatoes and soil contamination as the primary reasons.

According to the District Agriculture Office, Joypurhat has 19 cold storages with a combined capacity of 1,65,104 tonnes of potatoes. This season, eight cold storages, including Punat Cold Storage, M Ishrat Cold Storage, Sundarpur Cold Storage, and Muslimganj Mannan Cold Storage in Kalai Upazila, reported significant spoilage.

Two cold storages owned by the same entity in Udaypur Union—Mannan & Sons Seed Cold Storage and Muslimganj Mannan Seed Cold Storage—were hit particularly hard. From the Romana variety, approximately 30,000 bags (each weighing 60-65 kg) showed spoilage, with 20 kg of rotten potatoes found per bag. Farmers and traders faced losses ranging from Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,500 per bag.

Delwara Begum, Rowshan Ara, and Firoza, workers at Mannan & Sons Cold Storage, revealed that 20-25 kg of potatoes had to be discarded from each bag due to spoilage.

Khairul Islam of Udaypur said, "My 45 bags of potatoes stored in Mannan & Sons Cold Storage were spoiled. Not only did they refuse compensation, but they also charged Tk 340 per sack."

Arafat Hossain of Ellagari village shared, "This isn’t the first time. Potatoes stored last year were also spoiled, and the situation repeats itself. Complaints bring no solution."

Trader Ratan Mia added, "Even my best-quality potatoes were ruined due to negligence. The scale of spoilage this time is shocking."

Abdul Mannan, manager of Mannan & Sons Cold Storage, defended the facility, saying, "The potatoes stored were young and had soil sticking to them, which caused the rotting. Other varieties stored have not faced this issue."

Abu Raihan, manager of M Ishrat Cold Storage, acknowledged the problem, stating, "Potato spoilage occurs in every cold storage, but Mannan & Sons seems to have been hit harder this season."

Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Afroza Akhter Chowdhury assured action, saying, "If complaints are lodged by farmers, steps will be taken against the responsible cold storage authorities."

Recurring issues of spoilage in Joypurhat's cold storages highlight the need for better quality control and management. Farmers and traders, bearing the brunt of these losses, continue to call for accountability and remedies to safeguard their livelihoods.