Private entrepreneurs will import around 4,000 tonnes of high yielding variety potato seeds from the Netherlands in November for cultivating those during the next Rabi season.
Agriculture ministry sources said the high productive 'Diamond' variety of Dutch potato is a very profitable one to the farmers, particularly to the growers of Munshiganj area, from where 80 percent of the country's total potato output comes.
But the growers are in worry about the price of potato seeds, as they had to buy seeds at a higher price last year, which resulted in the rise of its production cost and ultimately the consumers became the victims of price hike.
Kamal Kazi, a potato grower of Munshikandi village under Munshiganj Sadar upazila told the news agency that they had to buy a crate (50 kg box) of Diamond potato seeds at a price ranging between Tk 10,000 and 15,000 last year, while the import price was only Tk 4,000.
"We had to suffer a lot last year in buying potato seeds due to the artificial crisis created by hoarders. We urge the government to take necessary steps so that the growers do not suffer from such crisis in the coming season," he said.
Meanwhile, a dilemma has been created between the local agent of supplier company, Agrico Potatoes of Holland, and the importers centring over the next import and distribution process of the variety. The agent and importers are blaming each other due to last year's unusual price hike of potato seeds.
When contacted, local agent of Agrico Potatoes, AR Malik said according to the instruction of the supplying company they have to change their policy to help the farmers.
"We ourselves will import the seeds on behalf of the distributors and the dealers and distribute those through them to the growers at upazila and union levels at a fixed rate so that they (farmers) are not cheated," he said.
Replying to a question on monopolising the business, he said, "As an agent of the supplier I am not supposed to make any profit. My only concern is to realise tax, VAT and other service charges from the distributors and dealers. The potato seeds will be supplied to the distributors and dealers directly from the Chittagong Port."
Elaborating on monitoring of the price, Malik said that he is already in close contact with the local administration and requested them to oversee the distribution process with the help of the joint forces.
Agrico Potatoes also sent a letter to the Director General of the Seed Wing in the Ministry of Agriculture saying as the number of interested importers of potato seeds has been increased significantly it has become impossible for them to satisfy all of them.
As a result they have to revise the process preferring a single importer who will distribute the seeds among the distributors and dealers smoothly, the letter said.
Expressing dismay over the steps taken by Agrico Potatoes and its local agent, AR Malik, President of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, Major (retd) Jashim Uddin said, "We don't support this step as it is an unethical attempt to manipulate markets".
We will file a writ petition challenging the process if Malik goes ahead with it, Jashim said.
Anwar Faruque, DG of Seed Wing said he is aware of the situation and trying to resolve it by consulting with both the parties.