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Traders are not meeting the price set by the government, but there is an additional stock 32 lakh tonnes more than demand.
After the onion, this time a union is raising the price by handling potatoes. Although there are more potatoes than national demand, the price of this product, essential for daily cooking, is increasing uncontrollably. According to the Trade Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the government marketing agency, the price of potatoes increased by Tk 10 per kg in one day on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, standard potatoes were sold at a price of 45 to 50 taka per kg in the capital. That was sold a day ago between 36 and 40 rupees. And good quality potatoes are sold for 60 rupees. As a government agency, prices have increased 25 percent in a single day. And in one year it has increased by 111 percent. After rice, onion, soybean oil, this time the low price of potatoes has caused a lot of suffering for low-income people. But why is the price of potatoes rising?
Traders say floods from four parts of the country this year have caused severe damage to vegetable fields in 36 districts, including the north. That is why this time there are no vegetables below 50 rupees. And it has an effect on potatoes. Another reason is that Corona workers have become unemployed and dependent on potatoes due to low prices. Besides rice, potatoes are also being given as relief to workers. For these reasons, the price of potatoes was Rs 20 / kg at the beginning of March, but has now reached Rs 60.
However, the Department of Agricultural Marketing said there was no reason to increase the price of potatoes. Therefore, he has been ordered to sell potatoes at 30 Tk per kg throughout the country. It is known that a directive in this regard has already been sent to the Deputy Commissioners (DC) throughout the country.
In this regard, the Director General of the Department of Agricultural Marketing Muhammad Yusuf said that the selling price of potatoes in the retail market has been set at Rs 30 per kg. He said the price of potato at the cold storage door is Rs 23 per kg. And the potatoes will be sold at 25 Tk per kg on the wholesale market. At the retail level, consumers will buy it for Rs 30.
However, yesterday Bikrampur potatoes were sold for Tk 43 per kg at the Kawran Bazar wholesale market in the capital. Rangpur and Rajshahi potatoes sell for Rs 44-48. In the retail market, it sells for Rs 50-60 per person.
What is the demand for potatoes per year? According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the demand for potatoes in the country is 6 lakh tonnes per year. In contrast, the country has produced 19 million tons of potato in the last financial year. In other words, even after meeting demand, there will be a surplus of 3.2 million tonnes of potatoes. Therefore, there is no reason to raise the price of potatoes.
Unscrupulous union behind: Meanwhile, concerned people said the unscrupulous union has taken advantage of the situation in Corona. Realizing the opportunity, they have increased the price of potatoes for no reason. This vicious cycle has also syndicated rice, onion, and soybean oil and increased prices. This time the price of other vegetables is increasing and they begin to handle potatoes.
Selim has been driving a van in Kawran Bazar in the capital for the past 10 years. When asked about the sudden rise in potato prices, he said angrily: “There are no vegetables below Rs 60/70.” The price of fish and meat is also high. Now the price of potatoes is going up. “I’ve depended on potatoes for so long,” he said. Now if I can’t buy potatoes as a vegetable, what else can I buy?
Buyers’ anger: Meanwhile, shoppers have expressed their doubts and anger at the benefits of the marketing campaign by increasing prices of various daily commodities without restrictions. A person who came yesterday to shop at the new market in Turag, the capital, said that the price of rice had been set earlier. Now the price of potatoes has been fixed. But vendors do not sell rice and potatoes at the price set by the government. So what is the benefit of pretending to fix the price? This buyer further said, I occasionally see market campaigns taking place. But I didn’t make any profit. In this time of Corona crisis, revenues have already declined. We have become helpless due to the rampant rise in prices of various products. I cannot manage my family even after reducing expenses.
Ittefaq / BAF
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