The prices of potato have increased to Tk 50-55 per kilogram in the city kitchen markets, hitting the consumers' pockets.
Diamond and cardinal varieties of stored potato were sold at Tk 50 a kg while 'carriage' variety at Tk 55 a kg on Monday in the city kitchen markets and groceries.
The prices of different varieties of potatoes ranged between Tk 40 and Tk45 a kg three days back, according to kitchen market sources.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a 20 per cent hike in potato prices in last three days.
And the current price of potato is 100 per cent higher than that of a year ago, said TCB.
Traders said a fall in production as well as existing higher prices of vegetables fuelled the demand for potato causing a surge in its prices.
Market observers, however, put emphasis on monitoring cold storages in key hubs on a regular basis to keep the prices of potato within the reach of commoners.
Hatem Ali, a grocer at Katasur in Mohammadpur of the city, said potato prices increased by Tk 8.0- 9.0 a kg at wholesale markets in last three days.
He said cardinal and diamond varieties were sold at Tk 43-45 a kg at Mohammadpur Krishi Market wholesale on Monday which was Tk 34-36 a kg on Friday.
Kazi Mahbub Morshed, a leading potato trader in the country, said the demand for potato is high this year due to a fall in production and high prices of vegetables.
He said the cyclonic storm 'Bulbul' caused damage to early varieties of potato in November last year which fuelled the demand.
Exports have also increased notably this year amid rising demand in Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal, he added.
He said potato prices might remain high as many areas were now inundated by floodwater this year hampering production of early varieties.
Ashiqul Islam, a cold storage owner in Rangpur, told the FE that traders were selling potato at Tk 33-35 a kg.
Potato prices went up due to price hike in vegetables, he added.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said potato was traded at Tk 8.0-14 a kg between February and April this year during the peak harvesting and storing period.
The produce is now retailing at Tk 50-55 a kg, he said, adding that cold storages and their allied traders should be brought under monitoring to bring down potato prices.
According to Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, cold storages under the association preserved 4.2-4.5 million tonnes of potatoes which was 40-45 per cent of total production.
Bangladesh produced 10.02 million tonnes of potatoes in the fiscal year 2019-20 against the demand for 8.0 million tonnes, according to the agriculture ministry.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
