Rise in potato prices fails to satisfy farmers, traders in Kalai
Potato prices have been rising for the past week in Kalai Upazila of the district after a continuous decline since the beginning of the season. However, this price increase has not yet met the expectations of farmers or cold storage owners. According to market analysts, the price will not increase permanently until the domestic stock of potatoes is exhausted.
In the past week, the price of a bag (60 kg) of potatoes has increased by about Tk 100 to Tk 150. Potatoes are now selling at Tk 1,020 in various shops in Kalai, where it was Tk 850 a week ago. The price has increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg.
Currently, the increase in the prices of other vegetables in the market has created some demand pressure on potatoes. Chan Mia, a shopkeeper of Baipail Bazar in Savar of Dhaka, said, “The quality of potatoes in Kalai is very good. In Dhaka, per 5-kg of these potatoes is selling at Tk 125 and at Tk 26-27 per kg in the retail market.”
However, Mithu Fakir, a seller at Punat cold storage, said, “An increase of Tk 1-2 per kg is not a big deal. The price will not increase if the amount of potatoes that farmers still have in their houses is not sold in the market. The potatoes in the cold storage are not being sold at all.”
Sohel Mia, who came to Pathanpara Chowdhury cold storage, said, “I have 296 sacks of potatoes in the cold storage. I have been trying to sell them before the recent Eid, but no wholesaler is taking them.”
Mokhlesur Rahman, who came to Punat Haat, said, “I bought white diamond potatoes at Tk 14 per kg three days ago, today I have to pay Tk 15. The prices of everything are increasing, we are surviving only on potatoes.”
Punat Cold Storage Manager Biplob Kumar Ghosh said, “Last year at this time, 30 percent of the potatoes in the cold storage were sold. This time, not even 5 percent has been sold. Only the potatoes in the farmers’ houses are being sold now. There is almost no sale in the cold storage. As a result, the prices do not seem to increase permanently.”
Kalai Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Arun Chandra Roy said, “This time the potato production in Kalai has been good. The prices were low due to high supply at the beginning of the season. Now, due to the price of vegetables, the demand for potatoes has increased slightly, as a result, the prices have also increased slightly. However, there is still a lot of potatoes in the farmers’ houses and cold storage, so the possibility of a permanent increase in prices is low. We advise farmers to fathom the market and sell potatoes step by step.”
