Cold storage owners have urged the government to provide a 20% discount on electricity bills and increase the cash incentive for potato exports from 10% to 30% to support the struggling sector.The demands were placed by the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) at a press conference held at its Paltan office in Dhaka on Saturday.BCSA President Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu said cold storage operators were facing financial difficulties due to falling potato prices, higher electricity costs and ongoing inflation.The association demanded an increase in potato storage charges, currently set at Tk6.75 per kilogram, citing rising operational expenses.It also urged Bangladesh Bank to recognise cold storage as part of the agricultural sector and create a Tk6,000-8,000 crore refinancing or special support fund with loans at a 5% interest rate.According to BCSA, over two lakh tonnes of potatoes remained unsold in cold storages until January 2026 due to low market prices, causing losses for operators.The association also requested that potato farmers be brought under the Farmer Card programme and that potatoes be included in the government’s Open Market Sale (OMS) and rationing schemes to increase consumption.BCSA data showed that Bangladesh produced more than 1.12 crore tonnes of potatoes in 2025, with production expected to reach nearly 1.15 crore tonnes this year.Farmgate potato prices have fallen to Tk5-9 per kilogram, while cold storage prices are Tk12-18 and retail prices range between Tk18 and Tk30 per kilogram.
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