‍‍`Potato price shouldn‍‍`t be over Tk 35 a kg in any way‍‍`

Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Directorate of National Consumers‍‍` Right Protection (DNCRP) AHM Shafiquzzaman has said the price of potatoes should not be more than Tk 35 per kilogram at retail level right now.

"The price of potatoes should not be more than Tk 35 per kg in any way after meeting the production cost, cold storage rent, transportation cost and other expenses," he said while speaking at an opinion-sharing meeting between the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) and FBCCI on Tuesday (Sept 12).

According to the DG of DNCRP, farmers sold potatoes at Tk 10-12 per kg at the field level which the businessmen stored in the cold storage remaining within the price of Tk 18-20 per kg. The preservation cost of each kg of potatoes in cold storage is Tk 5. Then, each kg of potato may cost maximum Tk 35-36 reaching at consumer level through wholesale and retail markets in the capital. But, the potato is now being sold at Tk 48-50 per kg at retail market which is "absolutely illogical."

AHM Shafiquzzaman said the Ministry of Commerce will issue a directive to all concerned on Wednesday to strengthened monitoring at the local level. "We hope to bring down additional prices of potatoes within the next one week."

At the meeting, cold storage businessman and FBCCI director Sirajul Islam said the potatoes have been stored in cold storage buying at Tk 13-14 a kg. But, it is now being sold at such a price which is completely unusual. "Some unscrupulous traders are trying to embarrass the government deliberately. Some dishonest businessmen have raised the potato price to put the government in trouble," he said.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of National Consumers‍‍` Right Protection (DNCRP) has decided to monitor the stock in cold storage at 15 districts to rein in potato prices.

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Coordinated monitoring at the district level will be strengthened at the district level from Wednesday under the supervision of the deputy commissioners. There are adequate quantities of potato which can meet the demand up to the month of December. If the monitoring is strengthened the potato price will go down at Tk 35 per kg, said the DG of DNCRP.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of cold storage owners, wholesalers of potatoes, aratdars and Ministry of Agriculture.