Potato price goes up in local markets
Thursday, 22 November 2007
FE Report
Prices of potato have gone up sharply in the kitchen markets despite its adequate supply, market sources said.
The prices of widely consumed potato have risen by Tk 5.0 each kilogram (kg) to Tk 27 since Monday at retail markets in the city and elsewhere in the country.
Potato was sold at Tk 22 each kg just two days back in the local markets, traders said.
Besides, the wholesale price of onion also rose sharply in the local markets during the period. Its price ranged between Tk 56 and Tk 76 each kg varying on the quality of the item.
On Tuesday, the price of potato at Karwan Bazar wholesale market was at Tk 125 per 5.0 kg bag. Its price at cold storage gate was at around Tk 1700 per 80 kg bag.
Hundreds of cold storages across the country keep potato, harvested in winter season, in bulk quantity and sell throughout the year.
When contacted cold storage owners claimed that the prices of potato increased as the cyclonic storm SIDR had devastated potato fields.
Major (retd.) Jashim Uddin, Chairman of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) told the FE that the price of potato would come down to its normal level by the next two to three days.
"We are expecting a fall in the prices of the potato shortly as the newly harvested potato will arrive in the local markets," he added.
But, market operators ridiculed the claim of the cold storage owners saying there is no relation between the cyclonic storm and the damage of potato as the storm-hit districts produce negligible quantity of potato.
Prices of potato have gone up sharply in the kitchen markets despite its adequate supply, market sources said.
The prices of widely consumed potato have risen by Tk 5.0 each kilogram (kg) to Tk 27 since Monday at retail markets in the city and elsewhere in the country.
Potato was sold at Tk 22 each kg just two days back in the local markets, traders said.
Besides, the wholesale price of onion also rose sharply in the local markets during the period. Its price ranged between Tk 56 and Tk 76 each kg varying on the quality of the item.
On Tuesday, the price of potato at Karwan Bazar wholesale market was at Tk 125 per 5.0 kg bag. Its price at cold storage gate was at around Tk 1700 per 80 kg bag.
Hundreds of cold storages across the country keep potato, harvested in winter season, in bulk quantity and sell throughout the year.
When contacted cold storage owners claimed that the prices of potato increased as the cyclonic storm SIDR had devastated potato fields.
Major (retd.) Jashim Uddin, Chairman of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) told the FE that the price of potato would come down to its normal level by the next two to three days.
"We are expecting a fall in the prices of the potato shortly as the newly harvested potato will arrive in the local markets," he added.
But, market operators ridiculed the claim of the cold storage owners saying there is no relation between the cyclonic storm and the damage of potato as the storm-hit districts produce negligible quantity of potato.