Workers busy separating good potatoes from the rotten ones at Patwary Cold Storage on Ichali Road at Chandpur. Photo: STAR

A huge amount of potato is rotting at several cold storages in Chandpur Sadar, Matlab, Hajiganj, and Kochua upazilas, said affected potato growers, traders and middlemen.

About 1,500 potato growers, traders and middlemen who stored their potatoes at Patwary Cold Storage, the largest one in the district, are in great despair as good amount the potatoes kept there have rotten.

Asked about the matter, cold storage manager Kader Master said the situation has arisen due to overloading of potatoes.

“Due to over-storage, required temperature cannot be maintained and potatoes are are rotting,” Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Abdur Rashid said.

Two days ago, staffs of Patwary Cold Storage were seen dumping the rotten potatoes into nearby holes, spreading bad smell in the neighbouring areas. Hearing the news of potatoes getting rotten many potato growers and traders are rushing to Patwary Cold Storage to know the fate of their stored potatoes.

A few potato growers were seen selling their bad quality potatoes at Tk 100/- per sack (containing around 85 kg of potato).

Farmer Md Ismail Gazi of Bora Eacholy said he had to sell half rotten potatoes at Tk 7 thousand whereas the usual price would be Tk 7 lakh.

Shahjahan Bhuiyan a trader has said about 1500 sacks of potatoes that he kept in the cold storage have gone rotten.

Farmer Dulal Bhuiyan said his 60 sacks of potatoes have already rotten.

Another farmer and trader Ratan has said, he does not know about the fate and condition of his stored 300 sacks of potatoes.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation Manager (Seed Preservation and Cold store) Ashraful Mollah said following bumper production of potatoes in Chandpur district this year, cold storages received potatoes much more than their usual capacity and it has led to rotting of the vegetable.