Page 74 - November 2020

price of other vegetables has also 20%, potatoes were exported in storing the vegetable, as they increased blood sugar control, and
increased since that time. It’s not large volumes. Last year, from just rent their facilities. Since a reduction in heart diseases is the
like the price shot up suddenly. By July to September, potato exports holding costs have risen, they We were afraid the prime benefit of potato
June 2020, potatoes were already amounted to just 0.3 million US can’t lower the prices. production of food consumption. Its antioxidants
being sold at Tk28-32 per kg, a dollars. In contrast, this year, However, specialists voice provide immunity against chronic
65% increase compared to 2019. more than 10 million dollar doubt in this claim. crops would plummet diseases. Besides all these
The crossing of Tk50-55 is just a worth of potatoes have been due to the COVID-19 nutritional values, potatoes are
trend that has been started way exported at the same time. This A secret pandemic. Our farmers incredibly filling, helping to reduce
earlier in this year. It’s surprising probably created a shortage in food intake. Also, it provides
since generally, the price of this the home market. There is also a syndicate? proved this fear wrong, much-needed food security for
particular food source stays around price hike going on in India and There is a well-known yet they didn’t benefit low-income people. It is widely
Tk20-22 per kg and never exceeded Nepal. In the neighboring Indian phenomenon in the from their hard work. used as a supplement for meat and
the Tk30 mark even when state of West Bengal, the price is Bangladeshi market. Often, vegetables. Understandably, a
production was low compared to around Rs34-38 (Tk39-43) per despite massive production, Mismanagement and price hike in potatoes creates a
the 2019-2020 yield. Let’s have a kg. This might have a spillover price skyrockets, thanks to intermediaries are long-term ill impact on the mass
closer look. According to a report effect on the Bangladeshi alleged corruption among eating up the results. population’s nutritional level.
by the Government Department of market. The government also traders and suppliers. In many
Agriculture Marketing, the blames corrupt business instances, secretly massive Specialists warn if the Government
production cost of per kg potatoes practices to be a crucial reason. amounts of products are government doesn’t
in the 2019-20 fiscal year was Storage owners and business stored, and after prices rise formulate a policy measures
Tk8.32, while farmers sold them at entities are holding back stored they are sold at a very The government has already taken
Tk 10-12 per kg. How come this potatoes or selling at inflated profitable rate. regarding potato steps to counter soaring prices.
same product is sold at more than prices. Despite production The unexpected hike in the production and take The Department of Agricultural
Tk50 in the retail market! reaching more than 1.09 crore price of onions is the most staunch steps against Marketing has fixed Tk30 per kg
Let’s have a more detailed look. At tonnes during the fiscal year of recent example of this. Last price and instructed Deputy
the start of this year, cold storages 2019-2020 against a demand of year, India imposed a ban on syndicates and corrupt Commissioners (DC) to ensure
sold potatoes at Tk19 per kg. This 77 lakh tonnes in the home onion export. Prices in the business entities, price potatoes are sold at this rate. On
includes grading charges (Tk0.45), market, general people are Bangladeshi market hikes like this will the other hand, wholesale prices
storage rent (Tk3.66 per kg), and finding it tough to buy this skyrocketed as a result. It was have been fixed at 25tk per kg, and
weight loss (Tk0.88). During the essential vegetable. Tk50 per kg in August, and by come again and again. the cold storage selling price is
start of the COVID-19 pandemic in November, it crossed Tk200 per Tk23. Various government
Bangladesh, prices increased to kg. Of course, the export ban agencies are reported to be
many countries and holds an essential Tk22.50. But since August, prices Cold Storage
position in the human food supply. shot up to Tk35 per kg. And by was a reason, but various task monitoring this fixed-rate
Bangladesh is no different. Potato is used October, it reached Tk40-42 per kg. owners differ in force operations revealed a accordingly.
as a vegetable, snacks, ingredients for So this was the price at the cold opinion vast amount of onion was A food crisis The measures are already yielding
preparing other dishes and also, half-rotten storage gate, and it crosses Tk50 illegally stored. The same Recently, essential some results. According to the
ones are used as cow fodder. It’s perhaps a by the time it comes to the retail Contradictory to government tendency has been common in commodities like onions, rice, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh
(TCB), the price has decreased by
staple diet for bachelors and the poor market. reports, store owners and traders the case of many essential chickens, and potatoes all T
section of the population. A hike in potato are telling a different story. The commodities. During have experienced price hikes to 9.5 percent and is likely to follow.
price is a thing of concern. However, it last two years’ bumper Ramadan, prices regularly some extent. There was a time Various markets are selling
seems unlikely, as the production was never Government production arguably made surge up. Even right now, when the government itself potatoes at 45tk per kg (retail
thought to be an issue. According to the explanation for potatoes not profitable for the many items like rice or other promoted potato consumption price). Task Force operations have
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, farmers; hence, production may vegetables are being sold at a to relieve pressure on already revealed some corrupt
Bangladesh produces about 10 million the hike the lockdown, the government have been less than predicted. higher price. Bangladesh’s staple food, rice. businessmen storing potatoes
tonnes of potato per year, whereas yearly Agricultural minister of was handing free or subsidized Cold storage association says It begs the question - How Lower-income households and illegally.
demand is 7 to 8 million tonnes. So how Bangladesh, Abdur Razzaque, aid to the general people. this year’s potato storage come this vegetable, which students are very dependent We were afraid the production of
come the hike? And what’s the nature of it? indicates several reasons for the Potatoes were distributed, and amounted to 45 lakh tonnes, 10 costs around Tk8-9 per kg to on potatoes; a dependence food crops would plummet due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. Our
produce, reaches Tk60 per kg
sudden price hike. According to many argue these have caused a lakh tonnes less than the in the retail market? It’s which increased more due to farmers proved this fear wrong, yet
previous year. Also, they refute
The hike him, a four-month long flood in shortage despite considerable the government estimates and alleged that since July-August, the pandemic. However, this they didn’t benefit from their hard
production. Foreign aid agencies
widespread demand is not
By mid-October 2020, one kg of cardinal or northern Bangladesh, one of the are also to be partly responsible. predict 2020s potato production cold storages around the being met, creating pressure to work. Mismanagement and
When Spaniards brought potatoes from the New diamond variety of potato was sold at chief potato growing regions, has They bought a massive amount is around 85 lakh tonnes. About country stopped the supply of search for a supplementary intermediaries are eating up the
World in the mid 16th century, none of them, Tk50-55 per kg in the open market. hampered production. Besides, cold of this vegetable in the 11 lakh tonnes are stored as stored potatoes, creating an diet, which is almost results. Specialists warn if the
neither the old world habitants, knew what this Numbers clocked Tk60 by late October. storage facilities don’t have enough April-May timeline to distribute seed for the coming season. artificial crisis. Various reports non-existent. Potatoes contain government doesn’t formulate a
seemingly tasteless, odorless vegetable would Before reaching at this level, potato prices potatoes stored compared to among 10-12 lakh Rohingya There are other complaints. show that cold storages have significant amounts of fiber, policy regarding potato production
become in the future. Between 1700 to 1900, the had already risen by 20% since the start of previous years. The coronavirus refugees camped in Cox’s Bazar. Electricity prices have risen this been selling potatoes at Tk35 potassium, manganese, and take staunch steps against
potato has become the world’s fourth most produced that month. If you’re wondering, it’s a 100 pandemic played a role behind this Since there was a massive year, making storage costly. to per kg, and the wholesale magnesium, phosphorus, and syndicates and corrupt business
food crop. And for valid reasons thanks to its percent price hike compared to last year. hike, according to the government production and a Facility owners say they have price is hovering around Tk40 vitamin (B6 and C). It lacks entities, price hikes like this will
versatility as a food source. It’s a staple food in The public was mad understandably. The and various other sources. During government-imposed subsidy of nothing to profit from illegally in Kawran Bazar. cholesterol. Higher immunity, come again and again.

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