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Potatoes retailed at 25-30 rupees per kg for the past few years now cost 50 rupees in the capital: 55 rupees depending on the location.
On Wednesday, the potatoes were sold at 50-52 Tk / kg at the Mirpur Barbagh, Pirerbagh and Shah Ali markets in the capital.
However, according to the government’s Department of Agricultural Marketing, the cost of potato production per kg last season was Tk 6.32. The price of the product should not exceed Rs 25 at the wholesale level and Rs 30 at the consumer level after potato storage in cold rooms and the profit of traders at different levels.
Sohail Anwar, a buyer at Barbagh Bazar, told bdnews24.com, “Such manipulations start with one product at a time. As the potato is a product produced in the country, there is no reason to increase the price in this way. Surely there is a large union working here, it will come out if you look.
“Now the prices of all kinds of products are going up, from rice, potatoes, onions and vegetables. And everyone knows that the economic situation of ordinary people is not good. So how many aspects will people handle? Sohail said in an angry tone.
Another buyer, Tareq Mohammad, said: “Low-income people rely more on potatoes, legumes and vegetables. They rarely buy fish and meat. Now they are frustrated because the prices of these products have gone up. “
Even ten days ago, the retail price for potatoes was Rs 30-32 per kg. After a week, the price goes up to Rs 40, then the house goes up to Rs 50.
Traders say sales of potatoes have declined as prices have risen. As a result, they are also suffering.
The potatoes arrive at the Barbagh retail stores from the Shah Ali market in Mirpur-1. The product was sold at Tk 42-44 in this wholesale market on Wednesday.
Selim, manager of a store called Mahir Traders in Shah Ali market, said: “Traders who bring potatoes from the district town play an important role in setting the price. There is no job without collecting commission from the warehouses.
“We also have a problem with the increase in potato prices. Sales have fallen. But we have nothing to do with fixing the price, we sell at the price they say.”
Another trader at the market said that potatoes were one of the ingredients in the massive relief efforts this time. As a result, stockists have raised the price of the potato at the end of the season because it costs a little more.
He sees no sign of a price reduction before the new potatoes arrive in December.
Even pricing doesn’t work
On October 8, the Department of Agricultural Marketing sent a letter to the Deputy Commissioners with an analysis of the product’s price and a maximum price recommendation to avoid instability in the price of potatoes.
The price of the product has risen by at least Tk 10 per kg even after the letter set the maximum price at Tk 30 for potatoes.
The letter said that Bangladesh produced 19 million tons of potatoes last season, despite an annual demand of 6 million tons. As such, 31 lakh tonnes of potatoes should be ready for export.
After analyzing the cost, the letter said that the maximum price for potatoes was Rs 14 per kg when stored in cold rooms during the season. Cold storage costs Tk 3 6 paise per kg, selection costs Tk 48 paise, weight loss Tk 6 paise, capital interest and other expenses Tk 2. In other words, the maximum cost of keeping one kg of potato is 21 rupees.
The letter said it was reasonable to sell potatoes to consumers by adding a dividend of 2 to 5 percent on the sales price at the cold storage level, 4 to 5 percent at the wholesale level, and 10 to 15 percent. at the retail level.
If the potato is sold at Tk 23 per kg from the cold storage stage, the conservator makes a profit of Tk 2. The cost of storage, rent and labor is 6 paise. The price is 23 rupees 7 paise. Adding profit with a maximum of 25 rupees.
The price of potatoes from the cold storage stage is Rs 23 per kg, the wholesale / yard price is Rs 25, and the maximum retail price is Rs 30 at the consumer level.
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