This year, Bangladesh produced 10,900,000 tons of potatoes against a maximum demand of 7,700,000 tons in 2020. To combat soaring prices of potatoes, the Department of Agricultural Marketing has directed all Deputy Commissioners for taking steps so that potatoes are sold at Tk30 (€0.30) per kilogram. A kilogram of potatoes sold at Tk 55-60 (€0.55-0.60) at different kitchen markets in the capital yesterday.
Mohammad Yousuf, director general of Department of Agricultural, told: “Since the prices of potatoes have risen sharply in the kitchen market, we have directed all deputy commissioners for measures to ensure that potatoes are sold for not more than Tk30 per kilo at retail markets.”
He also said different government agencies are monitoring the market and the prices will come down soon. However, the cold storage owners are claiming that the prices of potatoes went up due to supply shortage.
They said due to lower prices of potatoes in the last two years, farmers cultivated less land this time. As such the production was less than the previous year.
