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Dhaka: Potatoes are sold at a maximum price of 50 to 55 taka per kg in the history of the country. For the second time in a few days, the government has fixed the price of potatoes in three phases (cold storage, wholesale and retail) but the market for potatoes is volatile.
No one is following the set price.
In different districts, including Dhaka, potatoes still retail for Rs 20-25 more per kg than the fixed price. Potatoes are sold at Rs 15-20 per kg on the wholesale market and Rs 8-10 more in cold stores. And in the face of government repression, many vendors have stopped selling potatoes.
According to government estimates, the country produced more than 4 million metric tons of potatoes last season. Experts say there is no reason for a shortage of potatoes in this situation. The price of potatoes has risen due to traders and intermediaries. There is no benefit to the farmer even if the price is fixed.
Experts believe that fixing the price of potatoes to control the market will do nothing. They say they need to sit down with cold store owners and distributors to raise the price of potatoes and bring them to market. Potatoes must be brought to market by pressing them. At the same time, it is necessary to watch the intermediaries and import if necessary to cover the deficit.
Khandaker Golam Moazzem, senior researcher and economist at the Center for Policy Dialogue, told banglanews: “Potatoes have changed a lot in Bangladesh to reach the consumer level. As a result, the price goes up. Those who have bought potatoes at high prices will not want to leave the market. Therefore, it will be difficult to market them at the price set by the government. “
He said: “We have a little shortage of potatoes this year. Potato consumption has increased due to lower production of other crown and flood vegetables. If there is an opportunity to cover the shortfall, a certain quantity of potatoes can be imported from India. “
He said: “The supply will increase, the prices will not increase if one is aware that no one can store. “
However, he believes that the price of old potatoes will not go down even if new potatoes hit the market this year.
Agronomist and professor at Mymensingh Bangladesh Agricultural University. Humayun Kabir told banglanews: “The price of any product is generally determined based on supply and demand. There is no reason to raise the price of potatoes. The middlemen have done it here. They must be kept under strict surveillance. “
He said: “There is no justification for the price set by the government. Now it would have been better if the maximum was 30 rupees. The government has jumped into action but has come back. Because business and politics have become one.”
Advocate Sabur Ahmed, Chairman of Krishak Samiti, told banglanews: “The big problem in our country is that the producing class or the farmers never get the price. Traders have created an artificial potato crisis. Because the government has no control over the market and the merchants. “
He said: “If the market system were normal, there is no reason for the price of tahel potatoes to exceed Rs 20 or 25. There is no benefit to farmers no matter what price the government sets. Instead, farmers are now buying potatoes at high prices. The price set by the government is not pleasant for the consumer. The government has provided facilities for cold rooms, brokers and traders. “
Rajekuzzaman Ratan, a member of the Bangladesh central committee Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), told banglanews: “The union had a tactical hand behind the sudden deregulation of the potato market. The government has not implemented the price set by the merchants due to the strategy of the merchants. Traders are upset that there is no stability in the government’s decision, a little pressure can put the government in danger. As a result, it will be more convenient for merchants. “
He said: “Farmers don’t get the price. But the middlemen win. And it has been possible thanks to the pro-business policy. “
Stating that there is no shortage of potatoes in the country, he said, “About 1.2 billion rupees of Tk came out of consumers’ pockets solely due to market management.” If they can keep it that way for a month, they can earn another 1,200 Tk crore. I don’t know if there is such an opportunity in any other country in the world. “
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Trade Corporation (TCB) on Tuesday (Oct 20) started selling potatoes at Tk 25 from Wednesday on the instructions of Trade Minister Tipu Munshi.
Due to the sudden increase in the price of potatoes, the government set the maximum price of potatoes at Rs 30 at retail. But after not implementing it, the price of potatoes has been set at 35 Tk per kg at retail, increasing it by 5 Tk more. But even after about 24 hours, the traders do not sell the potatoes at the price set by the government.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, in fiscal year 2019-20, the country has produced 19 million metric tons of potatoes on approximately 4.5 million hectares of land. The demand for potatoes in the country is 6 million metric tons. As such, the amount of surplus potatoes is approximately 39 lakh metric tons. However, Cold Storage Association officials said otherwise. They said 9 million metric tons of potatoes have been harvested in the 2019-20 season. The annual demand for potatoes in the country is approximately 95 lakh metric tons. Of this, around 11 lakh metric tons of potato seeds are required. In the preservation stage, some is wasted and is wasted. In addition, some potatoes are also exported abroad.
Bangladesh time: 2056 hours, October 21, 2020
GCG / AJ
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