Govt hikes potato price by Tk5 per kg
Potatoes will have to be sold at Tk35 per kg at retail-level, Tk30 per kg at wholesale-level and Tk28 per kg at cold storage
The Department of Agricultural Marketing of the Agriculture Ministry has increased the maximum retail price of potato by Tk5 per kilogram (kg) on Tuesday. Now, potatoes may be sold at a maximum price of Tk35 per kg on the retail market.
A meeting was held on Tuesday in this regard with the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, officials of various agencies, farmers and businessmen at different levels, chaired by Director General, Department of Agricultural Marketing, Mohammad Yusuf.
According to the new price slabs, potatoes will have to be sold at Tk35 per kg at retail-level, Tk30 per kg at wholesale-level and Tk28 per kg at cold storage.
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Earlier, the government had fixed the prices of potatoes with the sudden onset of market volatility. The retail price was set at Tk30, Tk25 for wholesale and Tk23 for cold storage. However, the potato traders did not adhere to these prices.
The Cold Storage Association appealed to the government to refix the prices, taking their losses into consideration.
After announcing the revised potato prices, Mohammad Yusuf said, "From now on, the government will strictly monitor the market and cold storage level. If the new prices are not complied with, action will be taken as per Section 12 of the Agricultural Marketing Act 2018."
Earlier, traders and leaders of the Cold Storage Association demanded that a reasonable price be set that will benefit farmers, traders and consumers alike.
Mosharraf Hossain, president of the Cold Storage Association, said, "The government has set new prices in response to our demands. We will not support any trader that does not abide by these prices."
